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The breakdown of starch in leaves

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 11:23 authored by Zeeman, SC, Steven SmithSteven Smith, Smith, AM
This review describes recent progress in discovering the pathway of starch breakdown in leaves. The synthesis of starch from photo-assimilated carbon is one of the major biochemical fluxes in plants. Despite this, the pathway through which this starch is remobilized has not been defined. Numerous enzymes that could participate in starch breakdown are present in leaves, but until recently, the relative importance of each had not been determined. Through studies using model species such as Arabidopsis and potato, significant progress has now been made in determining the roles of known enzymes, and in the discovery of novel proteins necessary for breakdown. These data allow a tentative pathway for starch breakdown to be mapped out, involving hydrolysis primarily to maltose and subsequent maltose export to the cytosol. This provides a framework for complete discovery of the pathway and for the analysis of its regulation.

History

Publication title

New Phytologist

Volume

163

Pagination

247-261

ISSN

0028-646X

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2Dg

Rights statement

© New Phytologist(2004)

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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