Tag: Cellular storage

Approximately 10–20% of the dry weight of brown algae consists of mannitol, one of their primary photosynthetic products. This sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, along with the polysaccharide laminarin, is the main form of stored carbon in brown algae, also known as Phaeophyceae. This unique storage mechanism is key to their survival in fluctuating marine environments.

While the human body efficiently stores excess carbohydrates as glycogen and fats in adipose tissue, a key difference exists with protein's building blocks. The compelling metabolic reason why can't amino acids be stored is a complex interplay of toxicity, physiological constraints, and evolutionary priorities.