In
biochemistry,
polysaccharides are complex unsweet
carbohydrates. Polysaccharides are
polymers made up of many
monosaccharides joined together (hence
poly-saccharides). They are therefore very large, often branched, molecules. Properties include insolubility in water and not forming crystals. Examples include
starch,
cellulose, and
glycogen.
Structure
Polysaccharides have the general formula:
- -[Cx(H2O)y)]n-
where y is generally = x - 1.