homopolysaccharide

chemical compound

Also known as: homoglycan

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Homopolysaccharides are a type of polysaccharide formed from only one type of monosaccharide. They can be classified as either straight-chain or branched-chain, depending on how the monosaccharide units are arranged.

Examples of homopolysaccharides include:
* Cellulose: A structural component in plants, made of glucose.
* Starch (amylose and amylopectin): Food storage in plants, also made of glucose.
* Glycogen: Food storage in animals, made of glucose.
* Chitin: A structural component in insect and crustacean exoskeletons, made of N-acetylglucosamine.
* Inulin: Food storage in plants like artichokes, made of fructose.12

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carbohydrate
Homopolysaccharides
In general, homopolysaccharides have a well-defined chemical structure, although the molecular weight of an individual amylose or xylan molecule may vary within a particular range, depending on the source; molecules from a single source also may vary in size, because most polysaccharides are formed…
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In general, homopolysaccharides have a well-defined chemical structure, although the molecular weight of an individual amylose or xylan molecule may vary within a particular range, depending on the source; molecules from a single source also may vary in size, because most polysaccharides are formed…
Read More

polysaccharide
…one sugar derivative are called homopolysaccharides (homoglycans). Homopolysaccharides composed of glucose include glycogen and starch—the storage carbohydrates of animals and plants, respectively—as well as cellulose, the important structural component of most plants. Preparations of dextran, a glucose homopolysaccharide found in slimes
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…one sugar derivative are called homopolysaccharides (homoglycans). Homopolysaccharides composed of glucose include glycogen and starch—the storage carbohydrates of animals and plants, respectively—as well as cellulose, the important structural component of most plants. Preparations of dextran, a glucose homopolysaccharide found in slimes
Read More