Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers comprised of many monosaccharide monomers

• Three key polysaccharides can be produced from glucose alone – cellulose, starch and glycogen
  

The type of polymer formed depends on the isomer of glucose involved and the bonding arrangement between the subunits

• Cellulose is composed of ß-glucose subunits with glycosidic linkages between the 1’ – 4’ carbon atoms
  

• Starch is composed of ⍺-glucose subunits and may involve one of two distinct bonding arrangements
  

  • Amylose is solely comprised of 1’ – 4’ linkages organised into a helical structural arrangement

  • Amylopectin is a branched molecule comprised of both 1’ – 4’ linkages and additional 1’ – 6’ linkages

• Glycogen is similar to amylopectin in structure but is more highly branched (more frequent 1’ – 6’ linkages)
  

Glucose Polymers

Cellulose

Amylose

Amylopectin

Glycogen