Polysaccharides

• Made up of more than 10 units of monosaccharides and are also called as glycans or complex carbohydrates.
• Divided into 2 types –

1. Homopolysaccharides
2. Heteropolysaccharides

a. Homopolysaccharides-

• Glycogen– Storage form of Glucose in animals, so called as animal starch.

Glycogen present in muscle and liver.

• Starch (glucan or glucosan) – homopolysaccharides are made of glucose only and is found in plants.
• Chitin– Made up of N Acetyl D Glucosamine joined by β1 ——- 4 linkage.
• Cellulose– chief constutuent of plant cell wall.

Human cannot digest cellulose as they lack the hydrolose β 1, 4 glycosidic bonds.

• Iulin(Fructosan)– Homopolysaccharide of fructose in β 2 ——- 1 linkage.

Used in clearance test to determine GFR.

• Dextran– used as a plasma volume expander. ( Eg. Human albumin, Dextran, Hydroxyethyl starch (Hetastarch), Degraded gelatin polymer.
• Dextrose a term often used in bed-side medicine, e.g. dextrose drip.
• Dextrin is the partially digested product of starch.
• Dextran is high molecular weight carbohydrate, synthesized by bacteria. 

b.Heteropolysaccharides-

1. Glycoaminoglycans (Mucopolysaccharides) – unbranched heteropolysaccharide
2. Pectins
3. Agarose
4. Agar