2006-09-03 20:08:49 · 6 answers · asked by Mike V 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Storage Polysaccharides: Starch is a plant storage polysaccharide that is composed entirely of glucose joined by @1-4 glycoside linkages. amylose is the simplest form of starch. amylopectin is more complex and is branched. Glycogen is an animal starch stored in the liver and muscles of vertebrates. It is more highly branched than amylopectin.
Structural Polysaccharides: Cellulose and chitin are examples of structural polysaccharides.
Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on earth. It is made of glucose, like starch, but they differ in the type of 1-4 linkage. Instead of an @ linkage as in starch cellulose contains a B 1-4 linkage.
This causes the polysaccharide to take on a step arrangement and not a linear one like in starch.
Enzymes find it difficult to brake the B 1-4 linkage.
2006-09-11 05:47:09 · answer #1 · answered by ATP-Man 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alpha linked glucose has one shape and beta linked has another, as suggested in several answers you've received. The alpha linkage seems to be more compatible with branches and bends, as in starch and glycogen, while the beta linkage seems more compatible with long, fairly rigid rods as in cellulose. Animals can't digest cellulose, unless they're commensal with protozoa (as live in termite guts) or bacteria (as live in cow guts) that can break down the cellulose for them.
2006-09-11 15:32:26 · answer #2 · answered by Lorelei 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the arrangment of the OH in the glucose differ from alpha and beta..
2006-09-04 09:00:28 · answer #3 · answered by P.Y.T. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it differs according to the site of binding of th first OH ion to the sugar if it is above the plane it is beta whilst if it is below the plane it is alpha but i cant tell u the effect on animals coz i study medicine and it is all about humans!!!!!!
2006-09-09 16:04:16 · answer #4 · answered by rebellious_spirit 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the geometric structure is different
2006-09-04 06:02:36 · answer #5 · answered by Papilio paris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality
2006-09-04 03:16:45 · answer #6 · answered by Jose R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋