Cell Wall Flashcards
Where do cell walls occur?
In all plant cells.
What does the cell wall consist of?
Microfibrils of the polysaccharide cellulose, embedded in a matrix.
What do cellulose microfibrils contribute to?
The overall strength of the cell wall.
What features do cell walls have?
Many polysaccharides and a thin layer called a middle lamella.
What does the middle lamella do?
Marks the boundary between adjacent cell walls and cements adjacent cells together.
What are the functions of the cellulose cell wall?
To provide mechanical strength to the plant as a whole, and to allow water to pass along it to contribute to the movement of water through the plant.
What does the mechanical strength of the cell wall prevent?
The cell from bursting under the pressure created by the osmotic entry of water.
What are the cell walls of algae made of?
Either cellulose or glycoproteins, or a mix of both.
What are the cell walls of fungi made of?
A mixture of a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide called chitin, a polysaccharide called glycan and glycoproteins.
