Carbohydrates

Question 1

Structure of a Cellulose cell wall

Answer 1

• Straight cellulose chains have hydrogen bonds
• They use these to form microfibrils (60-70 cellulose molecules that wind up like a rope)
• These also wind up like a rope to form macrofibrils
• Macrofibrils then cross-hatch to form a strong permeable structure - the cell wall
• There is also lignin in the cell wall - polymer which adds strength