Amylopectin 542686 221258014 2008-06-23T19:11:28Z Broadbot 3410049 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]] [[de:Amylopektin]] [[es:Amilopectina]] [[eo:Amilopektino]] [[fr:Amylopectine]] [[id:Amilopektin]] [[it:Amilopectina]] [[he:עמילופקטין]] [[hu:Amilopektin]] [[ms:Amilopektin]] [[nl:Amylopectine]] [[ja:アミロペクチン]] [[no:Amylopektin]] [[pl:Amylopektyna]] [[ru:Амилопектин]] [[sr:Амилопектин]] [[tr:Amilopektin]] [[uk:Амілопектин]]