Cellulose is used in plant cell walls - provides rigidity
- Made up of the monomer beta-glucose, meaning the hydrogen on carbon1 is below the ring
- To form a chain each monomer must be rotated 180 degrees compared to it's neighbour to form a glycosidic bond
- The chains are straight and unbranched which run parallel to each other
- Hydrogen bonds form cross-linkages to add strength
- Cellulose molecules grouped to form microfibrils, which are grouped in parallel to form fibres
- Fibres layer on top of each other, each layer a different direction to the adjacent
Prevents osmotic lysis - exerts inward pressure, making cell turgid
The turgid plant cells increases the surface area for photosynthesis
To see diagram, copy and paste:
http://bio1151.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch05/05_08CelluloseArrange.jpg
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