trends in plant science 植物科学的趋势.pdfVIP

trends in plant science Reviews Engineering starch for increased quantity and quality Casey J. Slattery, I. Halil Kavakli and Thomas W. Okita The characterization and production of starch variants from mutation studies and transgene technology has been invaluable for our understanding of the synthesis of the starch granule. The knowledge gained has allowed for genetic manipulation of the starch biosynthetic path- way in plants. This in vivo approach can be used to generate novel starches and diminishes the need for post-harvest chemically and enzymatically treated starches. Thus, the modifi- cation of the starch biosynthetic pathway is a plausible means by which starches with novel properties and applications can be created. tarch is the predominant carbohydrate reserve in many plants. -1,4:-1,6 D-glucan polymer. The physicochemical properties of It is found in both photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic the -1,4 glucans are based on the degree of branching and/or poly- Stissues. Starch found in the chloroplasts of leaves and other merization. Therefore it might be of value to produce polymers with photosynthetically competent cells is termed ‘transitory starch’, features that are intermediate between amylose and amylopectin, or owing to the diurnal rise and fall of its levels in these tissues. Long- those that are more highly branched or have a higher molecular term storage of starch is achieved in the amyloplasts, the specialized