What is the major difference between chitin and other types of polysaccharides?
Carbohydrates are a major source of food and an important form of energy for most living organisms. A carbohydrate is a biomolecule consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The two basic compounds that makeup carbohydrates are – Aldehydes and Ketones. Carbohydrates are found in all-natural and processed foods. The three types of carbohydrate are:
Here, in this article, let us explore in further detail about the Polysaccharides, its types, properties and its functions. Table of Contents
What are Polysaccharides?Polysaccharides are major classes of biomolecules. They are long chains of carbohydrate molecules, composed of several smaller monosaccharides. These complex bio-macromolecules functions as an important source of energy in animal cell and form a structural component of a plant cell. It can be a homopolysaccharide or a heteropolysaccharide depending upon the type of the monosaccharides. Polysaccharides can be a straight chain of monosaccharides known as linear polysaccharides, or it can be branched known as a branched polysaccharide. Also Read: Biomolecules Characteristics Of PolysaccharidesPolysaccharides have the following properties:
Polysaccharides are categorized into two types:
HomopolysaccharidesnA polysaccharide that contains the same type of monosaccharides is known as a homopolysaccharide. Some of the important homopolysaccharides are:
HeteropolysaccharidesA polysaccharide that contains different types of monosaccharides is known as a heteropolysaccharide. Some of the important heteropolysaccharides are:
Functions Of PolysaccharidesThe polysaccharides serve as a structural organization in animalsand plants. Other functions of polysaccharides include:
Also Read: Proteins Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more about the carbohydrates, its types, structure, sources and other related topics. How is chitin different from other polysaccharides?Chitin is formed by a series of glycosidic bonds between substituted glucose molecules. Chitin is different from cellulose because of the substitution that occurs on the glucose molecule. Instead of a hydroxyl group (OH), the glucose molecules in chitin have an amyl group attached that consists of carbon and nitrogen.
Which is a unique characteristic of chitin?In cosmetic science, chitin and chitosan have been investigated as potential excipients and as biological active agents, thanks to their peculiar properties such as no toxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability.
What are the differences between cellulose and chitin?Chitin is the structural component of the fungal cell wall and the exoskeleton of arthropods. Cellulose is the structural component of the plant and algal cell wall. The strength of chitin is higher than that of cellulose. The main difference between chitin and cellulose is the occurrence and strength of the molecules.
What is chitin and polysaccharides?Chitin, the second most abundant natural polysaccharide, after cellulose, is a linear polymer composed of repeating β(1,4)-N-acetylglucosamine units (Figure 18). Chitin exists in the shells of arthropods such as crabs, shrimps, and insects and is also produced by fungi and bacteria.
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