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

White flowers is crossed with a dwarf plant, a) What new combinations of ch...

a) What new combinations of characteristics might arise in the offspring when a tall plant with white flowers is crossed with a dwarf plant (of the similar species) with red flower

Use of computer in biotechnology, what are the uses of computer in biotechn...

what are the uses of computer in biotechnology ??? briefly explain any twenty

What is yersiniosis, What is yersiniosis? Give its symptoms. Yersiniosi...

What is yersiniosis? Give its symptoms. Yersiniosis caused by the bacteria Yersinia enterolytica.   •  Causes severe abdominal pain, fever and diarrhoea.

Define the meaning of isomerism, Define the Meaning of Isomerism? All m...

Define the Meaning of Isomerism? All monosaccharides exhibit isomerism. An asymmetric carbon or chiral carbon contains four different groups attached to it. The formula 2 n de

Digestion of various disaccharides of the diet, Digestion of various disacc...

Digestion of various disaccharides of the diet The enzymes from brush border membrane of small intestine complete the digestion of various disaccharides of the diet and the pro

Classification and justification of hemichordata, Q. Classification and Jus...

Q. Classification and Justification of hemichordata? Kingdom Animalia Animals; multicellular organisms with cells that lack a cell wall, many capable of inovement or movement o

State the red blood cells in the body capillaries in a leg, Which of the fo...

Which of the following will lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to the body cells in a leg? A. A decrease in hydrogen ion concentration in red blood cells in t

Explain about platyhelminth phylum, What are the best known representatives...

What are the best known representatives of the platyhelminth phylum? The most popular representatives of the platyhelminthes are worms that cause human diseases, like taenia an

How do chloroplasts multiply, How do chloroplasts multiply? Like mitoch...

How do chloroplasts multiply? Like mitochondria chloroplasts have their own DNA, RNA and ribosomes and they self-replicate through binary division.

Explain about observation and classification of arthropoda, Explain about t...

Explain about the Observation and Classification of Arthropoda? Introduction In the previous unit you have examined the representatives of artliropoda.  In this unit, you wi

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