In which one of the following is nitrogen not a constituent ?[2003]a)P...
Raphides are needle-shaped crystals of calcium carbonate or calcium oxalate found in specialized plant cells called idioblasts. It is believed that the raphides are a defense mechanism against plant predators, as they are likely to tear the soft tissues of the throat or esophagus of a plant predator chewing on the plant’s leaves. They are non-nitrogenous substances.
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In which one of the following is nitrogen not a constituent ?[2003]a)P...
Explanation:
In the given options, nitrogen is not a constituent in option B which is "Idioblast". Let's understand why.
Pepsin:
- Pepsin is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the digestion of proteins.
- It is produced in the stomach and helps in breaking down proteins into smaller peptides.
- Nitrogen is present in the amino acid residues that make up proteins, so nitrogen is a constituent of pepsin.
Bacteriochlorophyll:
- Bacteriochlorophyll is a pigment found in certain photosynthetic bacteria.
- It is similar to chlorophyll, but it absorbs light of different wavelengths.
- Nitrogen is a constituent of bacteriochlorophyll as it is present in the porphyrin ring structure, which is responsible for absorbing light.
Invertase:
- Invertase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose.
- Nitrogen is present in the amino acid residues that make up invertase, so nitrogen is a constituent of invertase.
Idioblast:
- An idioblast is a specialized plant cell that contains substances such as crystals, tannins, or pigments.
- Idioblasts can vary in their content depending on the plant species.
- Nitrogen is not a constituent of idioblasts as they do not contain any specific nitrogen-containing substances.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B, "Idioblast," as nitrogen is not a constituent of idioblasts.