Starch, glycogen and cellulose

On the mini whiteboard…

1. Draw a molecule of α-glucose.
2. What disaccharide is formed when 2 α-
glucose molecules react?
3. What type of bond is formed between the
molecules?
4. What type of reaction is this?
5. Which enzyme breaks down maltose?
6. What other substance is needed?
7. What type of reaction is this?
8. What are the two molecules that make up
starch?
Condensation and hydrolysis
Starch
Found in many parts of the plant as small grains.
Large amounts in seeds and storage organs.
Major energy source in most diets.

1000s of α-glucose molecules bonded together

by glycosidic bonds in condensation reactions
makes starch.
Starch: Amylose andAmylopectin

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Starch: Amylose and Amylopectin

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Starch
Main role of starch is energy
storage, something it’s
especially suited for because:

It is insoluble
It is compact
When hydrolysed it forms α-
glucose

What are the advantages of

these properties?
Glycogen
• Starch is never found in animal cells; instead you find
glycogen.
• Similar to amylopectin in starch, except shorter chain and
more highly branched (1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic linked chains
of α-glucose).
• Stored as small granules mainly in muscles and liver.
• Not soluble in water.
• Readily hydrolysed.

What are the advantages of

these properties?
Subunit structure of glycogen
VERY similar to amylopectin – but shorter and more highly branched
Two forms of glucose
 Beta glucose polymers
 β-glucose molecules bond together through
condensation reaction to form long chains.
 Unlike α-glucose, forms long straight chains
due to orientation of glycosidic bonds.
 Straight chains contain up to 10 000 β-
glucose molecules.
 Cellulose chains found only in plants –
where?
Orientation of beta-glucose
and chain formation

‘Flip-flop’ arrangement of
molecules.
 Cellulose
 Forms straight, unbranched chains.
 Chains run parallel to each other
allowing H-bonds to form cross-links
between adjacent chains (microfibrils).
 Provides strength to cellulose cell walls.
 Individual bonds are weak but large
numbers adds to considerable strength.
 Cellulose
• Structural polysaccharide in plants.

• Linear chains constituted by D-glucose units (1-4) linked.

• No hydrolysable by human beings enzymes. Hydrolysable by

cellulases.

• Insoluble in water, fibrous and resistant.

• Cellulose chains interact by means of hydrogen bonds forming

cellulose microfibres. The hydrogen bonds increase the
strength of the structure.
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Cellulose chain, microfibrils
and macrofibril (fibre)
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