Amylose. Computer-generated molecular model of amylose. Amylose is composed of carbon (green), hydrogen (grey-white) and oxygen (red). Amylose is a polysaccharide that is a component of starch. It makes up 20-30% of the carbohydrate. Saccharides consist of rings of four or five carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. Attached around the ring are hydroxyl (OH) groups. Polysaccharides comprise hundreds of monosaccharide units joined in a chain.