Structure, occurrence and biological importance of cellulose
Answers
Explanation:
Structure:
Cellulose has no taste, is odorless, is hydrophilic with the contact angle of 20–30 degrees, is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, is chiral and is biodegradable. It was shown to melt at 467 °C in pulse tests made by Dauenhauer et al. (2016). It can be broken down chemically into its glucose units by treating it with concentrated mineral acids at high temperature.
Occurrence:
The main source of cellulose is the occurrence of this polysaccharide in different types of plants often combined with other bio-polymers. Of great scientific importance is access to cellulose using enzymatic and chemical methods, respectively, developed during the last decade.
Biological Importance:
Cellulose is a very important polysaccharide because it is the most abundant organic compound on earth. Cellulose is a major component of tough cell walls that surround plant cells, and is what makes plant stems, leaves, and branches so strong. Cellulose serves many functions including:
- connecting cells to form tissues
- signaling cells to grow and divide
- controlling the shape of plant cells
- allowing cells to withstand the turgor pressure of the fluids inside them