Homopolysaccharides

Definition:
Polysaccharides made up of only one type of monosaccharide unit, repeated throughout the chain.

Examples with biological role:

  • Starch – made of only α-D-glucose (plant storage polysaccharide).

  • Glycogen – α-D-glucose units (animal storage polysaccharide; ~10% of liver wet weight).

  • Cellulose – β-D-glucose units (structural component of plant cell walls).

  • Inulin – fructose units (storage in some plants like Jerusalem artichoke).

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