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Dictionary » C » Cellulose

Cellulose

Definition

noun

(1) A polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of β (1→4) linked D-glucose units: (C6H10O5) n.

(2) The fibrous carbohydrate found in the cell walls of green plants, some algae and oomycetes. It provides strength and rigidity to plant cells.


Supplement

The cellulose is a straight chain polymer of carbohydrates. Unlike starch, it lacks coiling and it forms a rather rigid, rod-like conformation.

Humans cannot digest cellulose but a dietary fiber that serves as a hydrophilic bulking agent in feces. In some animals like ruminants cellulose is digestible because they have symbiotic microorganisms in their guts that help digest cellulose.


Word origin: French, from cellule (biological cell).
Related form: cellulosic (adjective)

Related terms:


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Biological Functions of...

... in glycolysis) and so can disaccharides (think of lactose in the lac operon). Polysaccharides have a structural role in the cell wall of plants (cellulose) and fungi (poly-N-acetylglucosamine), they are important for cell adhesion (in cell junctions), they are important in the immune system (a ...

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by MrMistery
Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:59 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Biological Functions of...
Replies: 3
Views: 221

Different appearences b/w human and plant cells

... more rigid than human cheek cells is because all plant cells contain a Cell Wall. The cell wall can only be found in plant cells and is made up of cellulose, other carbohydrates and protein, this can help give a plant its shape and support the whole plant. They also contain a Vacuole: this takes ...

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by snezana
Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:05 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Different appearences b/w human and plant cells
Replies: 9
Views: 682

Plant-Fungi?

... wrong, are you asking which one is wrong the most? :P A) Fungi are not plant, nor are they necessarily unicellular B) They have chitine instead of cellulose as the main component of their cell wall C) They can synthesize protein just like all nucleated cells and prokaryotes D) They can absorb water, ...

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by biohazard
Mon May 11, 2009 6:04 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Plant-Fungi?
Replies: 6
Views: 1113

Plant-Fungi?

Tell me if this is a bad question: Fungi differ essentially from green plants in that fungi A - Are unicellular plants B - Lack Cellulose Wall C - Cannot synthesize protein D - Cannot Absorb Water E - Are unable to make Glucose from CO2 and H2O I was thinking B but they listed the answer ...

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by starllian
Sat May 09, 2009 10:23 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Plant-Fungi?
Replies: 6
Views: 1113

Chemical composition?

... endoplasmic reticulum etc. Cell wall: this depends whether the given cell is a plant, a fungus or a bacterium - plant cell walls mostly contain cellulose, fungi have chitine and bacteria can have e.g. peptidoglygan or glycoproteins. Nucleus: nucleus contains the nuclear envelope, as well as ...

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by biohazard
Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:18 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Chemical composition?
Replies: 2
Views: 801
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