Cellulose Cellulose is the major constituent of plant cell walls. Cotton is almost pure cellulose. On hydrolysis cellulose yields D-glucose molecules. Cellulose is a straight chain polysaccharide.
The glucose molecules are linked by β ( , )glycosidic bond. CH OH CH OH CH OH -D-glucose n Figure . Structure of Cellulose Cellulose is used extensively in the manufacturing paper, cellulose fibres, rayon explosive, (Gun cotton – Nitrated ester of cellulose) and so on. Human cannot use cellulose as food because our digestive systems do not contain the necessary enzymes (glycosidases or cellulases) that can hydrolyse the cellulose.
XII XII - - - - Glycogen: Glycogen is the storage polysaccharide of animals. It is present in the liver and muscles of animals. Glycogen is also called as animal starch. On hydrolysis it gives glucose molecules.
Structurally, glycogen resembles amylopectin with more branching. In glycogen the branching occurs every - glucose units opposed to - units in amylopectin. The excessive glucose in the body is stored in the form of glycogen. .
. Importance of carbohydrates . Carbohydrates, widely distributed in plants and animals, act mainly as energy sources and structural polymers. .
Carbohydrate is stored in the body as glycogen and in plant as starch. . Carbohydrates such as cellulose which is the primary components of plant cell wall, is used to make paper, furniture (wood) and cloths (cotton) . Simple sugar glucose serves as an instant source of energy.
. Ribose sugars are one of the components of nucleic acids. . Modified carbohydrates such as hyaluronate (glycosaminoglycans) act as shock absorber and lubricant.