Question

Plant physiology question:

What features do the structural polysaccharides and energy-storage polysaccharides of plants have in common? How are they different?

Answer 1

The plants also store polysaccharides in themselves in order to utilize them as a source of energy and provide structural support. However, unlike animals, plants do not store glycogen in themselves but instead store cellulose as the primary form of polysaccharide for storage. This cellulose serves both purposes, structural support and energy to the plants whenever required.

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose which are attached to each other by specific type of bonds and thus generate the structure. This polymer is very stable in nature and provide immense structural support to the plants by intensifying their cell walls. Further, this polymer also serves as the energy reserve since it contains glucose as the monomers. Thus, the presence of glucose makes it a common feature for storage in the form of structural as well as energy-storage polysachharide.

On the other hand, the extent of storage of these polysaccharides along with their solubilization forms are different for structural and energy-storage forms. Whereas structural cellulose is found in fibrous form, the energy-storage cellulose is generally found in globular form.