The secondary compound cyanide (Figure 1) is a toxic, bitter-tasting chemical that is found in apple seeds. Cyanide in seeds is only released and tasted if the seed is crushed. When animals eat apples, they typically eat the sweet fleshy part of the fruit and spit out the seeds or swallow them whole.

Based on the chemical structure of cyanide, identify ONE type of biological macromolecule that could serve as a chemical precursor for the production of cyanide in a plant. Justify your choice.

Amygdalin is a compound present in the apple seeds which contains sugar macromolecule and cyanide. When Amygdalin broken down by the action of enzymes, the sugar part is removed and only cyanide left which decomposes and produces poisonous gas of hydrogen cyanide. This is only be done if the animals crushed the apple seeds while eating apple.

Answer Link

batolisis batolisis · Answer 2 · 2021-09-28T11:17:45+02:00

Based on the chemical structure of cyanide the biological macromolecule that can serve as a chemical precursor for cyanide production in a plant is ; Amygdalin

Amygdalin a cyanogenic glycoside ( derived from phenylalanine ) is a natural compound that is found in most plants seeds such as apple and peach , It is a biological macromolecule that helps in the production of cyanide in plants.

The breaking down of Amygdalin by the removal of one of its glycoside group leads to the formation of cyanide in plants. also Laetrile is derived from the breaking down of Amygdalin as well.

Hence we can conclude that one biological macromolecule that can serve as a chemical precursor for cyanide production in a plant is ; Amygdalin

Learn more : https://brainly.com/question/3728368