Propagation of Polysaccharide Chains

Structural polysaccharides are almost always linear molecules, while polysaccharides that serve primarily as energy sources are commonly branched, or in some cases (e.g. starch) a mixture of linear and branched polysaccharides with the branched type predominating. In general, branched polysaccharides are easily soluble in water and have 

Biomacromolecules, by C. Stan Tsai Copyright 2007 John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

The number of monosaccharide units in a polysaccharide molecule is termed the degree of polymerization (DP). The conformation of the individual monosaccharide residues in a polysaccharide is relatively fixed. The different kinds of primary structures that result in secondary and tertiary structures give different kinds of properties such as water solubility, aggregation and crystalfization, viscosity, gelation, digestibility and biological recognition. 

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