Sandbox Reserved 1740: Difference between revisions
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== Relevance == | == Relevance == | ||
Why is cellulose synthase so important? | Why is cellulose synthase so important? Cellulose synthase is an enzyme that helps form the structure of cellulose. Cellulose is a polymer that is composed of many other homopolymers. Cellulose has many important jobs within a cell that without cellulose the cell could not function. Things like the formation of the cell wall which is vital to the life of a plant cell are all dependent on the synthesis of cellulose. Cellulose is water insoluble because of the inter and intra hydrogen bonging that occurs within the cell, this is relevant because cellulose is constantly in contact with water within the cell. | ||
== Structural highlights == | == Structural highlights == | ||
The primary structure of cellulose sythase is a long chain of glucose units. It is attached through Beta(1,4) linkages which appear to be like a sheet. | The primary structure of cellulose sythase is a long chain of glucose units. It is attached through Beta(1,4) linkages which appear to be like a sheet. These features can all be seen in the rotating figure above. | ||
Beta linkages form Beta sheets, 6 stranded beta sheets to be exact along with the beta sheets there can be found the 5 alpha helices. These chains form hydrogen bonds with each other forming microfibrils helping to create the overall strength and stability of cellulose. Though much research has been done, the tertiary structure of cellulose synthase has been difficult to find because of complications with things like purification of the active enzyme, and the overall difficulty of crystalizing plant cellulose synthase. | Beta linkages form Beta sheets, 6 stranded beta sheets to be exact along with the beta sheets there can be found the 5 alpha helices. These chains form hydrogen bonds with each other forming microfibrils helping to create the overall strength and stability of cellulose. Though much research has been done, the tertiary structure of cellulose synthase has been difficult to find because of complications with things like purification of the active enzyme, and the overall difficulty of crystalizing plant cellulose synthase. | ||
