Starch Flashcards
1
Q
What is starch?
A
A polysaccharide found in parts of plants in the form of small grains
2
Q
What is it made up of?
A
Chains of alpha glucose monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds that are formed by condensation reactions
3
Q
What is amylopectin?
A
Branched starch
4
Q
What is amylose?
A
Unbranched starch
5
Q
Why is amylose compact?
A
Unbranched (amylose) is wound into a tight coil that makes the molecules very compact
6
Q
What is the main role of starch?
A
Energy storage
7
Q
How is start suitable for energy storage?
A
Insoluble so doesn’t affect water potential
Large so can’t diffuse out of cells
Compacts so a lot in small spaces
Branched form is easily hydrolysed so glucose is released rapidly
8
Q
Where is starch never found?
A
Animal cells
