Polysaccharides

Definition

Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together. They serve as energy storage (e.g., starch in plants, glycogen in animals) and as structural components (e.g., cellulose in plant cell walls).

Related terms

Monosaccharides:

The simplest form of carbohydrate, consisting of single sugar molecules like glucose and fructose.

Glycogen:

A polysaccharide stored in animal cells that serves as a form of energy storage readily converted into glucose.

Cellulose: A polysaccharide that acts as a structural component in plant cell walls, providing rigidity and strength