Comparing and contrasting functions and features of carbohydrates cellulose, chitin,starch and glycogen - page 4
Keywords: carbohydrates structure function features starch chitin cellulose glycogen essay
By xbryonyx on 13/02/2007
Level: A Level (Year 12) / AS Level
Page Number: 4 of 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
arthropods the chitinous shell, or exoskeleton, covers the surface of the body, does not grow, and is periodically cast off (molted). After the old shell is shed, a new, larger shell is secreted by the epidermis, providing room for future growth. The chitin is rigid except between some body segments and joints where it is thin and allows movement of adjacent parts (2) Chitin is also one of the main components in the cell walls of some fungi, linking it to cellulose. (1) Its breakdown is conducted by bacteria which have receptors to simple sugars from the decomposition of chitin. If chitin is detected they then produce enzymes to digest the chitin by reducing it to simple sugars and ammonia.(2)
In conclusion, there are many similarities and differences between the structures and functions of chitin, glycogen, starch and cellulose, despite them all being polysaccharide carbohydrates. The functions of chitin and cellulose are very similar despite cellulose being apparent in plants and chitin being primarily apparent in animals. The same can be said for starch and glycogen. Although all the carbohydrates have common features, it is the subtle differences which allow each to perform its specific and essential function.
Bryony Whittaker
References:
(1) Highbeam Encyclopedia
(2) Wikipedia.org
(3) Crawford R.L - ‘Lignin biodegradation and transformation’
(4) Shigeru Deguchi, Kacru Tsujii and Koki Horikoshi -‘Cooking cellulose in hot and compressed water’
(5) Updegraff – ‘Analytic Biochemistry’ – ‘Semi-micro determination of cellulose in biological materials’
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