Functions of polysaccharides, Biology

Assignment Help:

FUNCTIONS OF POLYSACCHARIDES

  • Chitin is a structural component of fungal cell wall and exoskeleton of insects, crustaceans and some other arthropods.
  • Peptidoglycan or Murien is structural component of bacterial cell wall.
  • Mucilage or Slime Sheath is a mucopolysaccharide based viscous solution that is formed outside the body of many aquatic organisms to protect them from rotting effect of water, epiphytes and toxic chemicals. Mucilage may form a capsule around certain bacteria.
  • In plants pectic compounds and in animals hyaluronic acid are used as cell cement.
  • Mucus is a formed from mucoproteins and is meant for protecting lining layers of various tracts in the body from corroding chemicals and harmful microbes e.g., respiratory tract, stomach, intestine, cervix, etc.
  • Glycocalyx is a sugar coating over the cell membrane in animal cells which has several functions like

                     (a) Protection                   (b) Providing shape        (c) Attacting cations

                     (d) Sites for recognition    (e) Sites for receptors    (f) Blood group antigens  (g) Antibodies

  • Heparin is anticoagulant of blood and connective tissue.
  • Hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate provide lubrication to different body parts like tendons, ligaments, skin, connective tissue, joints (as synovial fluid), central nervous system (as cerebrospinal fluid), tissues (interstitial fluid), eyes (vitreous humour), etc.
  • Pectin is used as jellying agent.
  • Agar (from red algae Gelidium, Gracilaria) is used as culture medium, emulsifying and stabilizing agent in dairy products, confectioners and cosmetics.

Monosaccharide test = Benedict's test & Fehling's test

Polysaccharide test = Iodine test

Note :- Galactosemia disease in children can be removed by giving milk less diet.


Related Discussions:- Functions of polysaccharides

What is signifying by binomial nomenclature, Q What is signifying by binomi...

Q What is signifying by binomial nomenclature and what are its basic rules? Scientific nomenclature of a species must have at least two names one that classifies it as genus an

Prevention and control of shigella food borne infection, Prevention and Con...

Prevention and Control of Shigella food borne infection The control of  Shigella food borne infection is similar to that of salmonellae; avoiding contamination of foods by ani

Describe intemittent mandatory ventilation, Describe Intemittent Mandatory ...

Describe Intemittent Mandatory Ventilation (IMV) Mandatory breaths are delivered at set tidal volumes and rates, and the patient can breathe on his own in between through a un

Cyanotic heart disease, Cyanotic Heart Disease In  this there is a com...

Cyanotic Heart Disease In  this there is a communication between Pulmonary and systemic circulation through which venous blood enters the systemic circulatory system. The infa

Studying life histories of insects, Studying life histories of insects ...

Studying life histories of insects Cut large rectangular holes in the sides of a big cardboard container and cover them with muslin folded over at the edges and gummed or paste

Osmosis, Consider 100 ml of 10% solute and 10 ml of 50& solute. Which has t...

Consider 100 ml of 10% solute and 10 ml of 50& solute. Which has the greatest concentration of solute? What is the concentration of solute? Which has a greater quantity of solute?

What are the main types of inheritances - epistasis, According to Mendel's ...

According to Mendel's law phenotypical characteristics would be verified by pair of factors (alleles) that separate independently in gametes. What are the main types of inheritance

What is lipoproteins, A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly which haves b...

A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly which haves both lipids and proteins, bound to the proteins that allow fats to move by the water outside and inside cells. The proteins serv

Which are the glands present in the epidermis of mammals, Which are the gla...

Which are the glands present in the epidermis of mammals, birds and reptiles? In the epidermis of birds and reptiles there are almost no glands. In mammals there are sweat glan

Reactants of photosynthesis, what are the reactants and the products of pho...

what are the reactants and the products of photosynthesis? under the thylakoid, stroma,and combined

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd