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 the primary energy source for life on earth, What is the primary en...

What is the primary energy source for life on earth? The primary energy resource for life on earth is the sun. The sun plays the vital role of keeping the planet warmed and it

Scintillation counter, carnt understand its principle and mode of working

carnt understand its principle and mode of working

Describe the several steps by allosteric inhibition, Which of the following...

Which of the following are features of allosteric inhibition? During the infection, there are many different environments that P. multocida will encounter. In order to cause an inf

What is intracardiac repair of tetralogy of fallot, What is Intracardiac Re...

What is Intracardiac Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot ? Technique : The essential steps are: (I) relief of right ventricular outflow obstruction, and (2) closure of ventricular

Cost due to injury to worker, Cost due to Injury to Worker Medical...

Cost due to Injury to Worker Medical cost - medicine, surgery, hospitalization, extended treatment. Working time lost due to injury or death. Time loss of cowork

What is neurological complications congenital heart disease, What is Neurol...

What is Neurological Complications of Congenital Heart Disease ? Neurological complications contribute substantially to mortality and morbidity from congenital heart disease.

Platyhelminthes - nervous systems, Platyhelminthes - Nervous Systems A...

Platyhelminthes - Nervous Systems Among Platyhelminthes, you will observe that turbellarians have a brain and three to five pairs of longitudinal nerve cords extending from th

Sql''s fifth concept - null, SQL's Fifth Concept - NULL Unfortunately...

SQL's Fifth Concept - NULL Unfortunately, SQL embraces a fifth concept, called NULL, an apparently simple little thing but one that has pervasive effects on our usual underst

Explain some effect of inadequate nutrition, Explain some Effect of Inadequ...

Explain some Effect of Inadequate nutrition? Inadequate nutrition ranks as one of the major problems of old age. Various factors which may be responsible for the change in one

Is fecundation in mammals external or internal, Q. Is fecundation in mammal...

Q. Is fecundation in mammals external or internal? Fecundation in mammals is internal with copulation. In the contemporary world human technology is able to promote artificial

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