Review Article
Natural Products: A Minefield of Biomaterials
Table 4
General properties of certain natural polymers [
67].
| Polymer | Incidence | Physiological Functions |
| (A) Protein |
| Silk | Synthesized by anthropods | Protective cocoon | Keratin | Hair | Thermal insulation | Collagen | Connective tissues (tendon, skin) | Mechanical support | Gelatin | Partly amorphous collagen | Industrial product | Fibrinogen | Blood | Blood clotting | Elastin | Neck ligament | Mechanical support | Actin | Muscles | Contraction motility | Myosin | Muscles | Contraction motility |
| (B) Polysaccharides |
| Cellulose | Plants | Mechanical support | Amylose | Plants | Energy reservoir | Dextran | Synthesized by bacteria | Matrix for growth of organism | Chitin | Insects and Crustaceans | Provides shape and form | Glycosaminoglycans | Connective tissues | Contribution to mechanical support |
| (C) Polynucleotides |
| Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) | Cell nucleus | Direct protein biosynthesis | Ribonuclei acids (DNA) | Cell nucleus | Direct protein biosynthesis |
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