Polysaccharides: Chitin

The video explores chitin, a polymer of carbohydrates, comparing it to cellulose. It details chitin's structure, highlighting its repeating units of N-acetyl glucosamine and its unbranched, homopolymer nature. The video discusses chitin's presence in insect exoskeletons and its strong, resilient properties due to hydrogen bonding. It explains the beta 1-4 linkage pattern and why humans cannot digest chitin, unlike alpha-linked carbohydrates like starch. The video concludes with a discussion on the role of microorganisms in digesting beta-linked polymers in some animals.

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