Structure and function of cellulose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90Zgdi0-O0

What is cellulose

Polymer of beta glucose,

When molecule of cellulose is formed, every second beta glucose molecule flips like this to form glycosdic bonds between carbons 1 and 4

Cellulose is unbranched polysaccharide,

What does cellulose form due to no branches

Straight chain, this allows cellulose molecules to get close together , hydrogen bonds can now form between neighbouring chains , due to large number of hydrogen bonds it makes cellulose extremely strong.

What happens when cellulose chains group together

It is called a microfibril, they then join together to join larger structures called macrofibrils, they then group together to form cellulose fibre which form plant cell wall

Key feature about cellulose cell wall

It is permeable to molecules , e.g water.

Under normal conditions, plant cells contain great deal of water, as water moves in by osmosis, the plant cell contents push outwards against cellulose cell wall,

The great strength of cellulose cell wall means it can reisst the outwards pressure do to cell contents.

Prevents cell from bursting.