Amylopectin
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2008-06-23T19:11:28Z
Broadbot
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robot Adding: [[da:Amylopektin]]
[[Image:Amylopectin.svg|right|300px|thumb|Chemical structure of amylopectin]]
'''Amylopectin''' ([[CAS registry number|CAS]]# 9037-22-3) is a highly branched [[polymer]] of [[glucose]] found in plants. It is one of the two components of [[starch]], the other being [[amylose]]. It is soluble in water.
Glucose units are linked in a linear way with α(1→4) bonds. Branching takes place with α(1→6) bonds occurring every 24 to 30 glucose units.
Its counterpart in animals is [[glycogen]] which has the same composition and structure, but with more extensive branching that occurs every 8 to 12 glucose units.
Plants store starch within specialized [[organelles]] called [[amyloplasts]]. When [[energy]] is needed for [[cell (biology)|cell]] work, the plant hydrolyzes the starch releasing the glucose subunits. [[Humans]] and other animals that eat plant foods also have [[enzymes]] to hydrolyze starch.
Starch is made of about 70% amylopectin by weight. Amylopectin is highly branched, being formed of 2,000 to 200,000 glucose units. Its inner chains are formed of 20-24 glucose subunits.
==See also==
*[http://www.starch.dk/isi/starch/starch.htm International Starch Institute]
{{carbohydrates}}
[[Category:Polysaccharides]]
[[bg:Амилопектин]]
[[da:Amylopektin]]
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[[es:Amilopectina]]
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[[id:Amilopektin]]
[[it:Amilopectina]]
[[he:עמילופקטין]]
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[[ja:アミロペクチン]]
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[[ru:Амилопектин]]
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[[uk:Амілопектин]]