What are polysaccharides primarily composed of?

Polysaccharides are primarily composed of more than two monosaccharides linked together through glycosidic bonds. These complex carbohydrates can consist of long chains of monosaccharide units, which can be identical or varied. Common examples of polysaccharides include cellulose, starch, and glycogen, all of which play crucial roles in energy storage and structural integrity in living organisms.

The composition of polysaccharides distinguishes them from simpler carbohydrates. Disaccharides consist of exactly two monosaccharides, while monosaccharides are the simplest unit, representing single sugar molecules. Fatty acids, on the other hand, are components of lipids and do not pertain to the structure of polysaccharides at all. This foundational knowledge is essential in understanding the molecular biology of carbohydrates and their physiological functions.