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

Glucagon and glucocorticoids, Important  aspects  related to regulation inc...

Important  aspects  related to regulation include: 1)  The hormones glucagon and glucocorticoids  which are  secreted  during  starvation stimulate  glucose-6-phosphatase to en

Bacterial diseases-black disease, Black disease It is a fatal peracute...

Black disease It is a fatal peracute disease caused by Clostridium novyi Type B. It is associated with liver damage caused by liver fluke. The onset of the disease is rapid fo

Five kingdom classification, discuss the merits nd demerits of five kingdom...

discuss the merits nd demerits of five kingdom classification.

Reproduction, What is the difference between asexual and sexual reproductio...

What is the difference between asexual and sexual reproduction

What is hyperhomocysteinaemia, What is Hyperhomocysteinaemia ? Homocyst...

What is Hyperhomocysteinaemia ? Homocysteine has been considered as a risk factor for Cardio-vascular diseases because of many epidemiological and observational studies showing

What is h shaped incision and what is its purpose, Q. What is H shaped inci...

Q. What is H shaped incision and what is it's purpose? This type of incision is especially useful for: The anterior maxilla or mandible. Accurately identified implant

What are the major representatives of the pteridophytes, Q. What are the ma...

Q. What are the major representatives of the pteridophytes? Is this plant group phanerogamic or cryptogamic? The better known pteridophytes are the ferns and the maidenhairs, f

Define sample preparation for haemoglobin content in blood, Define Sample P...

Define Sample Preparation for Haemoglobin Content in Blood Wipe the index finger or middle finger with a cotton swab soaked in spirit. Prick the finger with a lancet op

Tagmatization, sample assignment on tagmatization

sample assignment on tagmatization

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