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

Vitamins and minerals requirement in chronic diarrhoea, Q. Vitamins and min...

Q. Vitamins and minerals requirement in chronic diarrhoea? Loss of vitamins is related to the degree of mucosal damage in chronic diarrhoea, which in turn impairs absorption an

Alkaline phosphatase, Alkaline Phosphatase is an enzyme which catalyzes th...

Alkaline Phosphatase is an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the phosphomonoesters of the 5' nucleotides. It is used to dephosphorylate (remove phosphate groups from) the 5

Collibacillosis, C o l l i ba c i ll o si s It is commonly s...

C o l l i ba c i ll o si s It is commonly seen in newly born farm animals and occurs in septicaemic and enteric collibacillosis forms. E tiology: The disea

Define freeze concentration, Define Freeze Concentration? This process ...

Define Freeze Concentration? This process has been known for many years and has been applied commercially to orange juice. However, high processing costs due largely to losses

Health dimensions of development, Health Dimensions Of Development ...

Health Dimensions Of Development It is widely recognised that the health status of the people of a country is as important as their economic status. The role of the governm

What is hemoglobin, What is hemoglobin? What is the inorganic element that ...

What is hemoglobin? What is the inorganic element that is fundamental in the composition of hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is the protein present in the blood responsible for the trans

What is the industrial melanism in evolution, What is the Industrial Melani...

What is the Industrial Melanism in evolution? A classic example of Darwin's theory at work in an actual real-life situation lies in the case of the peppered moth during the ind

Fidelity - synthetic characters, Fidelity - Synthetic Characters Fidel...

Fidelity - Synthetic Characters Fidelity refers to the degree to which a species is restricted in its occurrence to a particular kind of community. The species with low fideli

Disorders of upper respiratory tract, DISORDERS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT:...

DISORDERS OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT: Common Cold: It is most frequent and most common infection in infants  and children. Common cold corresponds  to  acute nasopharyn

Explain the intracellular perfusion fluid, At 1 AM, a healthy squid giant a...

At 1 AM, a healthy squid giant axon is placed in a bath of normal squid physiological extracellular saline and is internally perfused with normal squid intracellular saline.

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