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

Explain about the calcium and hypertension, Explain about the Calcium and H...

Explain about the Calcium and Hypertension? Chronic inadequate intake of calcium may play some role in etiologies of hypertension. Calcium deficiency has been linked to hyperte

State the phases of soil genesis, State the phases of soil genesis Soil...

State the phases of soil genesis Soil genesis embodies two distinct phases. One is weathering that involves disintegration and decomposition of rocks and minerals, the other is

Why is the occurrence of eyelids in amphibians, Why is the occurrence of ey...

Why is the occurrence of eyelids in amphibians in comparison to their absence in fishes and adaptation to terrestrial life? Eyelids associated to lacrimal glands protect and ke

How pathologic conditions causing the underweight, How Pathologic Condition...

How Pathologic Conditions causing the underweight? Illness can affect weight status in a number of ways. For example, fevers and infections increase the demand for energy, whic

Poultry and duck diseases-marek''s disease, Marek's disease Marek's dis...

Marek's disease Marek's disease is a lymphoproliferative disease of chicken, quails, bantams and other free-flying birds. It is caused by the Gallid Herpesvirus 2 of subfamily

Special characteristic of stem cells, What is the special characteristic of...

What is the special characteristic of (a) stem cells, (b) embryonic stem cells? (a) Stem cells can continue to divide throughout their life. (b)The special characteristic of

Tools and techniques - effects of plant growth regulators, Tools and Techni...

Tools and Techniques - Effects of Plant Growth Regulators We have discussed about the "effect of auxins". In this section we shall discuss the methodology being followed in h

Ribosomes in eukaryotic, Q. How dissimilar are the location of ribosomes in...

Q. How dissimilar are the location of ribosomes in eukaryotic and in prokaryotic cells? In eukaryotic cells they can also be found free in cytoplasm and mainly adhered to the e

Recurrent type, Recurrent Type In this type, euspory (seen in normal ...

Recurrent Type In this type, euspory (seen in normal cases) is replaced by aneuspory (Diplospory) because of irregular meiosis. When the spore mother ceIl functions directly

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