Storage polysaccharides and structural polysaccharides
Depending on the functional roles played by homopolysaccharides are divided into storage polysaccharides and structural polysaccharides. Storage polysaccharides serve as storage form of monosaccharide that is used as fuel. Starch is an example of storage polysaccharide in plants, and glycogen is the storage polysaccharide in animals.
Structural polysaccharides such as cellulose and chitin serve as structural elements in plant cell wall and animal exoskeleton, respectively.
Heteropolysaccharides, unlike homopolysaccharides, provide extracellular support for organisms. In extracellular space of animal tissues, these form a matrix that holds individual cells together and provides shape, support and protection to the cells and tissues.
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carbohydrates