Chrysolaminarin
Chrysolaminarin is a linear polymer of β(1→3) linked glucose units[1][2]. It used to be known as leucosin. Chrysolaminarin is arguably one of the most common biopolymers in the world with cellulose being the other.
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
- ↑ Basic definition of chrysolaminarin, Susquehanna University
- ↑ Beattie et al. "Studies on the metabolism of the Chrysophyceae." Biochem J. (1961) 79:531-7
- ↑ Biological use of chrysolaminarin, California State University, Stanislaus
- ↑ Putz (2004). "Valuable products from biotechnology of microalgae". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. PMID 15300417. Unknown parameter
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