Difference between Heteropolysaccharide and Homopolysaccharide?

Polysaccharides are large carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds. Based on the type of monosaccharides present, they are classified into homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides.

A homopolysaccharide (or homoglycan) is composed of only one type of monosaccharide unit repeated throughout the chain. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose, which are all made of glucose monomers. These are mainly used for energy storage (like starch in plants, glycogen in animals) or structural support (cellulose in plant cell walls).

A heteropolysaccharide (or heteroglycan) contains two or more different kinds of monosaccharides. Examples include hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and peptidoglycan. These usually serve structural or protective roles in the body rather than as energy sources. For example, peptidoglycan forms the bacterial cell wall, while hyaluronic acid is found in connective tissues.