In: Chemistry
What is the structural and functional difference between polysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates which consist of
multiple monosaccharides with other structures. These
monosaccharide units are bonded with glycosidic linkages. Starch,
cellulose, glycogen and chitin are best examples of
polysaccharides.
Glycogen and Starch are composed of glucose units. starch acts as
storage form in plants and Glycogen is the storage form in animals.
Cellulose is the main structural components in plants.
Glycosaminoglycans are long un-branched polysaccharides which are
composed of repeating disaccharide units and also called as GAGs or
mucopolysaccharides due to their viscous and lubricating
properties. They are essential to life and important components of
connective tissues. GAG chains are covalently bonded to other
proteins like chemokines, cytokines, morphogens, growth factors,
enzymes and adhesion molecules and forming proteoglycans. these
perform extracellular and sometimes intracellular functions.
Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan, acts as a natural anticoagulant
substance.