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

Collagen helix protein structure, Collagen Helix Collagen has a larg...

Collagen Helix Collagen has a large amount of glycine (25%) and proline (and hydroxyproline, 25%). They run parallel, form a right handed super-helix that is stabilized b

Spring overturn - overturn, Spring overturn - Overturn In spring and e...

Spring overturn - Overturn In spring and early summer season the increased solar radiation melts the ice cover, which, as it attains a temperature of 4° Celsius, becomes dense

Who is aristotle - ancient greeks and romans, Who is Aristotle - the Stagir...

Who is Aristotle - the Stagirite? The ptodigious activity of Aristotle (384-323 B.C.) marks the climax of the Golden Age of Greece. The very existence of his works proves not s

What is mass transportation across the cell membrane, What is mass transpor...

What is mass transportation across the cell membrane? Mass transportation is the entrance or the exiting of substances in or from the cell engulfed by portions of membrane. The

Feeding on liquids, Feeding on Liquids Animals feeding on liquids are...

Feeding on Liquids Animals feeding on liquids are generally highly specialised for their feeding habits. Certain protozoa, endoparasites and aquatic invertebrates take up nut

Determine the medical history - assessment, Determine the Medical History -...

Determine the Medical History - Assessment  A child's medical history often contains predictors of neuropsychological functioning. Perhaps the most obvious predictor is the pre

Excreation, the excretory waste products formed breakdown of protein

the excretory waste products formed breakdown of protein

Into which two groups can the nitrogen-containing bases, Into which two gro...

Into which two groups can the nitrogen-containing bases that form DNA and RNA be classified? What is the criterion used in that classification? The nitrogen-containing bases th

Functions of the vascular system, Functions of the Vascular System The...

Functions of the Vascular System The major function of the circulatory system is to provide a transport mechanism for the blood flow to and from the heart. The vascular syste

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