Cell wall Practical Flashcards
What is the primary focus of the practical on plant cell walls?
The chemical composition of plant cell walls, specifically the monosaccharides that make up polysaccharides like cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin.
List the three major polysaccharides that compose plant cell walls.
- Cellulose
- Hemicellulose
- Pectin
What monosaccharides are found in cellulose?
Glucose
What monosaccharides are found in hemicellulose?
- Xylose
- Mannose
- Arabinose
What monosaccharide is rich in pectin?
Galacturonic acid
Define hydrolysis in the context of polysaccharides.
Chemical or enzymatic breakdown of polysaccharides into their monosaccharide components.
What technique is used to separate and analyze monosaccharides?
Chromatography
What are the initial steps in preparing cell wall material?
- Extract cell wall material from plant tissues
- Isolate the insoluble wall matrix through washing and centrifugation
What is the purpose of treating extracted cell wall material with acids or enzymes?
To break down polysaccharides into monosaccharides.
What is the role of paper or thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in this practical?
To separate hydrolyzed monosaccharides based on their solubility and interaction with the stationary phase.
How can the separated monosaccharides be visualized?
Using specific staining reagents, such as aniline hydrogen phthalate.
Which monosaccharide is released as the dominant component upon hydrolysis of cellulose?
Glucose
What mixture of monosaccharides is yielded from the hydrolysis of hemicellulose?
- Xylose
- Mannose
- Arabinose
Rhamnose
What is the major component produced from the hydrolysis of pectin?
Galacturonic acid
What insights can be gained from analyzing the monosaccharide profile of plant cell walls?
Information about the plant’s structural adaptations and resistance to environmental stresses.
