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

How does the intensity of facilitated diffusion differ, Q. How does the int...

Q. How does the intensity of facilitated diffusion differ in relation to the concentration of the moved substance? What is limiting factor? Like simple diffusion facilitated di

Define fat requirement for cancer patients, Define Fat requirement for canc...

Define Fat requirement for cancer patients? During cancer there is enhanced mobilization of free fatty acids from adipose tissues resulting in subsequent depletion of total bod

Number of chromosomes, NUMBER Benden and Boveri first indicated tha...

NUMBER Benden and Boveri first indicated that number of Chromosomes is definite in each organism. (1) Haploid (n) - One set of Chromosomes. i.e. one Chromosome of each

Describe oxidative stress in new cardio-vascular, Describe Oxidative Stress...

Describe Oxidative Stress in New Cardio-vascular Risk Factors ? In the risk conferred by LDL cholesterol, the oxidative modification of LDL plays a central role, because it is

Show the examples of arthropods, Q What are the few examples of arthropods?...

Q What are the few examples of arthropods? Ants, crabs, cockroaches, shrimps, flies, spiders and scorpions are examples of arthropods.

Investigation of aortic regurgitation by electrocardiogram, Q. Investigatio...

Q. Investigation of aortic regurgitation by Electrocardiogram? Electrocardiogram shows left ventricular dominance with voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy. In mod

Explain about celiac disease, Q. Explain about Celiac Disease? Gluten-s...

Q. Explain about Celiac Disease? Gluten-sensitive enteropathy or, as it is more commonly called, celiac disease, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the small intestine. I

What is reduction, What is reduction? The most commonly understood defi...

What is reduction? The most commonly understood definition of reduction is the removal of oxygen or addition of hydrogen ions. However, chemically, reduction can be defined as

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