Carbohydrates Chemistry
IV. Polysaccharides
Prof / Ayman El Baz
Professor of Medical Biochemistry &
Molecular Biology
Dr/ Sara El Derbaly
Assistant professor of Medical Biochemistry&
Molecular Biology
Course learning outcomes
At the end of the lecture, the students should be able to:
• Define Polysaccharides.
• Identify the different types of Polysaccharides
• Describe the structure of different types of Polysaccharides
• Recognize the functional significance of the different types of
Polysaccharides
• Correlate the structure of different types of Polysaccharides to their
functions.
Polysaccharides
• Definition:
Polysaccharides, also called glycans, consist of more
than 10 monosaccharide units and/or their derivatives
joined together by glycosidic linkage.
Polysaccharides
• Homopolysaccharides (homoglycans): contain only one type of
monosaccharide. e.g. starch, glycogen, dextran, dextrin, cellulose&
inulin.
• Heteropolysaccharides (heteroglycans): contain more than one type
of monosaccharides. e.g. glycosaminoglycans (GAGs,
mucopolysacchrides), & agar.
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are classified according to their function
into storage and structural polysaccharides.
• Storage polysaccharides: Starch, glycogen, dextran and
inulin.
• Structural polysaccharides: cellulose and agar.
Polysaccharides
Homopolysaccharides
Homopolysaccharides
1. Starch:
• Structure: It is a glucosan (α-D glucose units) consists of 2 layers:
➢ Inner linear non-branching layer called amylose. Glucose units
are linked together by α 1- 4 glycosidic bonds. Iodine reacts with
α- amylose to give blue colour.
➢ Outer highly branched layer called amylopectin. The branch
points occur about once every thirty linkages forming α 1-6
glycosidic bond. Iodine reacts with amylopectin to give a red-
violet colour.
Homopolysaccharides
• Both amylose and amylopectin are rapidly hydrolyzed by salivary
and pancreatic amylase to yield maltose and dextrins.
• Function:
➢ It is the most common storage polysaccharide in plants.
Homopolysaccharides
2. α-Dextrin:
Structure:
• Starch is partially hydrolyzed by the action of acids or enzymes
into dextrins (made of several glucose units) and is hydrolyzed by
α-dextrinase.
Function:
➢ Dextrin is used as mucilage.
Homopolysaccharides
3. Dextran:
• Structure:
➢ It is formed of α-glucose units (glucosan).
➢ It is highly branched molecule with most links are α 1-6 glycosidic
bonds but rarely α 1-4 glycosidic bonds.
• Function:
➢ It is a storage polysaccharide produced by microorganisms as
yeasts and bacteria
• It is used for intravenous infusion as plasma volume expander for
treatment of hypovolemic shock.
N.B.
Dextrose is D- glucose, a term used in bedside medicine,
e.g. dextrose drip.
Dextrin is the partially digested product of starch.
Dextran is high molecular weight carbohydrate,
synthesized by bacteria.
Homopolysaccharides
[Link] (animal starch):
Structure:
➢ It is formed of α-glucose units (glucosan).
➢ It is highly branched molecule (branches every 10 glucose units; more
branched than amylopectin). It yields a red violet color with iodine.
Function:
• The major form of storage polysaccharides in animals and human body.
• It is found mainly in liver (about 6% of liver mass) and skeletal muscle
(about 1% of muscle mass).
• In fasting: Glycogen is hydrolyzed to glucose for maintenance of blood
glucose level.
Homopolysaccharides
5. Inulin:
• Structure:
• It is formed of fructose (fructosan).
• Function:
➢ It hydrolyzed by the enzyme inulinase in plants. It has no dietary importance
in human beings as inulinase is absent in human.
➢ It is used in inulin clearance test to determine the rate of glomerular
filtration. It can be used as a diet for diabetics.
Homopolysaccharides
6. Cellulose:
• Structure:
It is formed of β-D-glucose units.
• Function:
➢ It is the most abundant natural polymer found in the world. It is the structural
component of the cell walls of nearly all plants.
➢ Cellulose is extremely resistant to hydrolysis whether by acid or by the digestive tract
amylases. So, it can stimulate peristaltic movement and prevent constipation.
➢ The bacteria that live in the gut of ruminant animals secrete cellulase enzyme (β-
glucosidase) which is effective in the hydrolysis of cellulose.
Heteropolysaccharides
Mucopolysaccharides
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Proteoglycans
Heteropolysaccharides
• Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long linear unbranched chains composed of a
repeating disaccharide units (sugar acid- amino sugar)n.
• The amino sugar may be either D-glucosamine or D-galactosamine and the
amino group is usually acetylated (sometimes sulphated).
• The acid sugar may be either glucuronic or iduronic.
Proteoglycans
• All of the GAGs except hyaluronic acid are
found covalently attached to protein,
forming proteoglycan monomers.
1-Heparin 2-Heparan sulfate 3-Hyaluronic acid
Sugar acid L-Iduronic acid D-Glucuronic D-Glucuronic acid
Amino-sugar Glucosamine Glucosamine Glucosamine
(non acetylated) (acetylated) (acetylated)
Sulfate group More Sulfated Less Sulfated Non sulfated
Site Mast cells lining the Extracellular receptors in cell Synovial fluid of
arteries of the lungs, membranes, joints, loose connective
liver and skin basement membranes, tissue, vitreous humor of
components of cell surfaces eye, skin
Main Anticoagulant Component of cell Shock absorbing and
function surface lubricant in joint cavities.
4- Keratan sulphate 5-Chondrotin sulfate 6- Dermatan sulphate
Sugar acid Galactose (not sugar acid) D-Glucuronic acid L-Iduronic acid
Amino-sugar Glucosamine Galactosamine Galactosamine
(acetylated) (acetylated) (acetylated)
Sulfate group Sulfated Sulfated Sulfated
Site Type I is abundant in cornea Mucid connective tissue (Bone, Wide distribution, skin, blood
Type II is found in mucid cartilage, tendons, ligaments and vessels and heart valves
connective tissue (Bone, joints)
cartilage, tendons,
ligaments and joints)
Main • Corneal transparency • Elasticity and compressibility of • The main GAG in skin.
function • Support and protection cartilage in weight bearing. • Blood coagulation, wound
• Support and protection repair and resistance to
infection.
Heteropolysaccharides
❑Agar
• A polysaccharide isolated from marine red algae.
• Composed of agarose and agaropectin.
• Agarose gel is used in gel chromatography and gel electrophoresis.
• Nutrient agar is used in preparation of culture media in microbiology.
References
• Vasudevan’s Textbook of Biochemistry For Medical Students, 7th Edition.
• Chatterjea’s Textbook of Medical Biochemistry, 8th edition.
• BRS Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics, 5th Edition.
