Starch, Glycogen and Cellulose

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  • Starch, Glycogen and Cellulose
    • Starch
      • Only found in plants
        • The equivalent in animals is Glycogen
      • Made up of chains of ?-glucose
        • Linked by glycosidic bonds
      • Can be branched or unbranched
        • Unbranched is wound into a tight coil
          • Compact, so lots can be stored in a small space
        • The branched form has many ends
          • These can be acted on my enzymes so the glucose monomers can be released very rapidly
      • Insoluble
        • Won't effect water potiental
      • When hydrolysed, it forms ?-glucose
        • It is easily transported
    • Cellulose
      • It is made of ?-glucose rather than ?-glucose
        • Meaning fundamental differences in the function and structure
          • ?-glucoses OH and H groups are flipped
        • ?-glucoses OH and H groups are flipped
      • Has unbranched chains that run parallel to each other
        • Hydrogen bonds form cross-linkages between the chains
          • The sheer amount of these bonds strengthens cellulose considerably
      • Cellulose molecules are grouped together to form microfibrils
        • These microfibrils are arranged in groups called fibres
      • It is a major component of plant cell walls
        • Provides rigidity to the cells shape and stops it from bursting during osmosis
      • Only found in plant cells
    • Glycogen
      • Found in animals and bacteria
      • Compact, so a lot of it can be stored in a small space
      • Sometimes called 'animal starch'
      • More highly branched than starch
        • More ends to be acted on by enzymes
          • More glucose monomers are formed, which are used in respiration
      • Insoluble, so doesn't effect the cell during osmosis
      • It doesn't diffuse out of cells
      • Stored as small granules mainly in the muscles and liver

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