Polysaccharides form a heterogeneous group of polymers of different length and composition. They are constructed from monosaccharide residues that are linked by glycosidic bonds. It has already been shown that
These construction principles would allow an indefinite number of different polysaccharides. But only a fraction of these are actually found in nature, since only certain combinations won through in the course of evolution.
The most common sugar found in polysaccharides is glucose. Its polymers are called glucanes. In the following explanation about the construction principles of polysaccarides, only glucanes will be used as examples. Nevertheless, a huge amount of further homo- and heteropolymers exist especially in plants. Many of them are components of the cell walls. Some are widespread, others are refined to single plant groups.
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