How are polysaccharides formed?

Polysaccharides are formed through the process of polymerization of monosaccharides, which are simple sugars. During this process, condensation reactions occur, where water molecules are removed as monosaccharides are linked together to form larger carbohydrate structures. This bonding forms glycosidic linkages between the sugar units, resulting in various types of polysaccharides like starch, glycogen, and cellulose, depending on the specific monosaccharides involved and their arrangement.

This formation is vital for producing energy storage molecules and structural components in plants and animals. The other processes mentioned do not pertain to polysaccharide formation: fats are formed through hydrolysis, proteins are polymerized from amino acids, and nucleotides are linked together to form nucleic acids. Each of these represents distinct biological macromolecule synthesis pathways.