A linear B1→4 glucan, composed of cellobiose residues, differing in this respect from starch, which is comprised of maltose residues; it forms the basis of vegetable and wood fiber and is the most abundant organic compound; useful in providing bulk in the diet. SYN: cellulin. [L. cellula, cell, + -ose]
- c. acetate phthalate a reaction product of phthalic anhydride and a partial acetate ester of c.; used as a tablet-coating agent.
- carboxymethyl c. c. in which some of the OH groups are modified to contain —CH2—COOH groups; used in column chromatography. SYN: CM-c..
- O-diethylaminoethyl c. c. to which diethylaminoethyl groups have been attached; used in anion-exchange chromatography. SYN: DEAE-c..
- microcrystalline c. purified, partially depolymerized c., prepared by treating α-c., obtained as a pulp from fibrous plant material, with mineral acids; used as a tablet diluent.
- oxidized c. 1. cellulosic acid in the form of an absorbable gauze; used as a hemostatic in operations where ligation is not feasible (capillary or venous bleeding from small vessels) because cellulosic acid has a pronounced affinity for hemoglobin and produces an artificial clot; 2. a sterile absorbable substance prepared by the oxidation of cotton containing not less than 16% and not more than 22% of carboxyl. SEE ALSO: oxycellulose.
- TEAE-c. c. to which triethylaminoethyl groups have been attached; used in ion-exchange chromatography. SYN: O-(triethylaminoethyl) c..
- O-(triethylaminoethyl) c. SYN: TEAE-c..
* * *
cel·lu·lose 'sel-yə-.lōs, -.lōz n a polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of plants, occurs naturally in such fibrous products as cotton and kapok, and is the raw material of many manufactured goods (as paper, rayon, and cellophane)
* * *
n.
a carbohydrate consisting of linked glucose units. It is an important constituent of plant cell walls. Cellulose cannot be digested by humans and is a component of dietary fibre (roughage).
* * *
cel·lu·lose (selґu-lōs) the most abundant polysaccharide in nature, a rigid, colorless, unbranched, insoluble, long chain polymer, consisting of 3000 to 5000 glucose residues in β-(1,4) linkage and forming the skeleton of most plant structures and of plant cells; it can be enzymatically hydrolyzed to the disaccharide cellobiose, although humans lack the necessary enzyme, cellulase.Medical dictionary. 2011.