Chrysolaminarin

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Chrysolaminarin
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Names
Other names
Chrysolaminaran; Leucosin
Identifiers
9013-94-9 YesY
Properties
variable
Molar mass variable
Melting point 273 °C (523 °F; 546 K)[1]
Soluble
Vapor pressure {{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Chrysolaminarin is a linear polymer of β(1→3) and β(1→6) linked glucose units in a ratio of 11:1.[1][2] It used to be known as leucosin. Chrysolaminarin is alongside cellulose arguably one of the most common biopolymers in the world.

Function

Chrysolaminarin is a storage polysaccharide typically found in photosynthetic heterokonts. It is used as a carbohydrate food reserve by phytoplankton such as Bacillariophyta (similar to the use of laminarin by brown algae).[3]

Chrysolaminarin is stored inside the cells of these organisms dissolved in water and encapsuled in vacuoles whose refractive index increases with chrysolaminarin content. In addition, heterokont algae use oil as a storage compound. Besides energy reserve, oil helps the algae to control their buoyancy.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Basic definition of chrysolaminarin, Susquehanna University
  3. Biological use of chrysolaminarin, California State University, Stanislaus
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.