Homopolysaccharides are a type of polysaccharides that are made up of a single type of monosaccharide unit. They are important for energy storage, structural support, and cell recognition in various organisms. However, it can be challenging to remember the names and structures of different homopolysaccharides. In this guide, we will provide a trick to help you remember homopolysaccharides more easily.


The trick to remember homopolysaccharides is to use a mnemonic device based on the first letter of each name. The acronym we will use is "GALNAPST". Each letter in this acronym corresponds to a different homopolysaccharide, as follows:

• G: Glucose


• A: Amylose


• L: Lactose


• N: Neuraminic acid


• A: Agarose


• P: Peptidoglycan


• S: Starch


• T: Trehalose

Let's break down each of these homopolysaccharides and their corresponding letter in the acronym.

Glucose (G): Glucose is the most common monosaccharide and is a major component of many homopolysaccharides, such as cellulose and glycogen.

Amylose (A): Amylose is a linear homopolysaccharide made up of glucose units and is a component of starch.

Lactose (L): Lactose is a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose, but it is included in this acronym because it contains a homopolymeric lactose moiety, which is important for milk digestion.

Neuraminic acid (N): Neuraminic acid is a monosaccharide that is a component of many glycoproteins and glycolipids and is important for cell recognition.

Agarose (A): Agarose is a linear homopolysaccharide made up of galactose and is a component of agar, a gelatinous substance used in microbiology.

Peptidoglycan (P): Peptidoglycan is a polymer made up of sugar units and amino acids and is a major component of bacterial cell walls.

Starch (S): Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of glucose units and is an important energy source for many organisms.

Trehalose (T): Trehalose is a disaccharide made up of two glucose units and is important for energy storage in some organisms.


Using the acronym "GALNAPST" can help you remember the names and structures of different homopolysaccharides. With this trick, you can easily recall the first letter of each name and associate it with the corresponding homopolysaccharide. This can be a helpful tool for studying and remembering the properties and functions of these important biom