Which plant starch is characterized by branched glucose chains?

Amylopectin is the starch characterized by branched glucose chains. It is one of the two components of starch, the other being amylose. In amylopectin, the glucose molecules are linked together in a network that includes both linear and branched sections. This branching occurs due to the presence of α(1→6) glycosidic bonds, which create side chains off the main polymer backbone. The branched structure of amylopectin allows for more rapid breakdown by enzymes, facilitating quicker energy release compared to its linear counterpart, amylose, which is more slowly digested.

Glycogen, while also having branched glucose chains, serves a different function as the storage form of glucose in animals, not plants. Meanwhile, phospholipids are a completely different class of biomolecules, primarily involved in forming cellular membranes, and do not relate to starch or glucose chains. Therefore, the characteristic branching present in amylopectin makes it a key structural component of starch in plants, allowing for efficient energy storage and utilization.