Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Xia, Kang Zhang, Lingqia Su, Jing Wu
Summary: Starch debranching enzymes (SDBEs) play a crucial role in hydrolyzing alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides and are essential for various industrial processes. While the substrate specificities of pullulanases and isoamylases differ, both enzymes belong to glycoside hydrolase families and have similarities in their core catalytic domains. Efforts have been made to improve the catalytic efficiency, thermostability, and expression level of SDBEs through enzyme engineering and fermentation strategies. Researchers have also summarized the diverse biochemical properties and features of pullulanase and isoamylase from different sources, aiming to broaden the applications of SDBEs in various industries.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Rui Wang, Mei Li, Jinguang Liu, Fenfen Wang, Jing Wang, Zhongkai Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the effects of dual modifications of pullulanase debranching and propionylation on rice starch properties, confirming the occurrence of propionylation in starch molecules. The results revealed that AC is an important factor affecting propionylation reaction, and debranching treatment increased the degree of substitution of propionyl starch. Additionally, debranching led to increased crystallinity levels and changes in crystallinity patterns, which are associated with hydrolysis resistance.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Susan K. Boehlein, Barbara Pfister, Tracie A. Hennen-Bierwagen, Chun Liu, Maximilian Ritter, L. Curtis Hannah, Samuel C. Zeeman, Marcio F. R. Resende Jr, Alan M. Myers
Summary: By using yeast as a test bed, the researchers isolated starch biosynthetic enzymes from maize endosperm and found that different combinations of enzymes led to variations in the accumulation of soluble and insoluble starch, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms that differentiate plant starch from nonplant species.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mariasole Cervini, Mario Gabrielli, Giorgia Spigno, Gianluca Giuberti
Summary: Durum wheat spaghetti samples prepared with increasing levels of resistant starch (RS) from debranched waxy rice starch (DWRS) were analyzed for chemical composition, quality, sensory parameters, and in vitro starch digestion. The use of DWRS increased the fiber content and RS level, while decreasing the starch hydrolysis index. However, higher levels of DWRS had a negative impact on quality parameters and cooking characteristics. Despite this, all the DWRS-containing spaghetti samples had acceptable sensory scores of > 5.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ido Simon, Zohar Persky, Aviram Avital, Hila Harat, Avi Schroeder, Oded Shoseyov
Summary: Isoamylase (ISA) is an enzyme found in plants that plays a role in starch granule formation and degradation. Researchers synthesized lipid-modified PEI (lmPEI) as a carrier for long dsRNA, which targeted three isoamylase isoforms. The particles were applied to plants via foliar spray and effectively suppressed the expressions of different isoamylase isoforms. This study has implications in achieving transgenic phenotypes in plants using a novel delivery system and using foliar applications of dsRNA in agriculture.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shiro Nagamatsu, Takuya Wada, Ryo Matsushima, Naoko Fujita, Satoko Miura, Naoko Crofts, Yuko Hosaka, Osamu Yamaguchi, Toshihiro Kumamaru
Summary: Mutation of the BEIIb gene in an isa1 mutant background mitigates the negative effect of the ISA1 mutation on grain filling, and facilitates recovery of amyloplast formation in rice endosperm.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mengting Ma, Zekun Xu, Xiaojing Chen, Chuangchuang Zhang, Ziyi Liu, Dennis Cantre, Haitao Li, Zhongquan Sui, Harold Corke
Summary: Using incomplete gelatinization, the formation mechanism of inner and outer granules in rice starch was studied. It was found that inner blocklets are mostly composed of shorter branched-chain amylopectin and some amylose molecules, while outer blocklets are made up of longer branched-chain amylopectin and few amylose molecules.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Changfeng Li, Panpan Cao, Peng Wu, Wenwen Yu, Robert G. Gilbert, Enpeng Li
Summary: The study found that the digestion rates of starch in cooked rice are more affected by protein's physical barrier, while in uncooked rice, the chemical effect of protein is more pronounced than the physical barrier effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuehan Pang, Yaqi Hu, Jinsong Bao
Summary: High-temperature stress affects rice grain quality by regulating protein phosphorylation, leading to changes in starch metabolism. Specific phosphorylated enzymes play key roles in amylopectin biosynthesis in response to high-temperature stress. This study provides new insights into the mechanism underlying grain quality development under high-temperature stress.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Federico Apelt, Eleni Mavrothalassiti, Saurabh Gupta, Frank Machin, Justyna Jadwiga Olas, Maria Grazia Annunziata, Dana Schindelasch, Friedrich Kragler
Summary: This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the roots and above-ground tissues of Arabidopsis, revealing marker genes, differences and similarities in cell types, and transcriptome changes throughout the day.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Dong Zhang, Luyao Zhao, Wenjuan Wang, Qian Wang, Jianlei Liu, Yuanyuan Wang, Hui Liu, Bo Shang, Xiaoliang Duan, Hui Sun
Summary: The study investigated the changes of non-starch and starch lipids in two rice varieties during storage using an untargeted lipidomic approach. It identified 395 non-starch lipids and 13 starch lipids in the two rice varieties, with significant differences in lipid profiles between Nanjing and Jianzhen rice during storage. Bioinformatics analysis revealed different lipid metabolic pathways in the two rice varieties during storage.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nnaemeka Emmanuel Okpala, Kelvin Dodzi Aloryi, Tianyue An, Longxin He, Xiangru Tang
Summary: The biosynthesis of amylose in rice is a complex process influenced by several factors. Granule-bound starch synthase I and BEIIb are key enzymes involved in starch synthesis and branching, playing important roles in regulating the amylose content of rice. Understanding the biosynthesis process will contribute to improving rice amylose content and developing new testing methods.
JOURNAL OF CEREAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Ryo Matsushima, Hiroshi Hisano, Ivan Galis, Satoko Miura, Naoko Crofts, Yuto Takenaka, Naoko F. Oitome, Takeshi Ishimizu, Naoko Fujita, Kazuhiro Sato
Summary: We identified barley mutants with altered starch granule morphology, which were allelic mutants of the starch biosynthesis genes HvISA1 and HvFLO6. The hvflo6 hvisa1 double mutant showed significantly reduced starch biosynthesis and shrunken grains, but higher levels of soluble alpha-glucan, phytoglycogen, and sugars compared to single mutants. Additionally, the double mutants exhibited defects in SG morphology in the endosperm and pollen, indicating a novel genetic interaction between hvflo6 and hvisa1.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhongwei Zhang, Jiajia Zhao, Piengtawan Tappiban, Yining Ying, Yaqi Hu, Feifei Xu, Jinsong Bao
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in transcript levels of starch synthesis genes, protein abundances, enzyme activities, and starch molecular structures in rice endosperm during seed development. The results revealed different expression patterns and diurnal changes in starch chain length distributions in different rice varieties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yu Qin, Shuohan Ma, Jianwei Zhou, Dandan Li, Jianle Chen, Wenjun Wang, Huan Cheng, Zhengzong Wu, Jinhu Tian, Enbo Xu, Donghong Liu
Summary: This study investigated the retention of phenolic compounds in brown rice through bioextrusion using different concentrations of mesophilic alpha-amylase. Results showed that while extrusion promoted the release of phenolics, it also led to a significant loss of these compounds. However, increasing the concentration of the enzyme resulted in a higher retention of phenolics, reaching up to twice that of traditional extrudates. Additionally, the viscosity of the bioextruded brown rice decreased significantly and was negatively correlated with phenolic retention. The study also revealed that the mechanical input and residence time influenced starch gelatinization, ultimately affecting the presence of phenolics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Arpad Carrera, Gavin M. George, Michaela Fischer-Stettler, Florian Galbier, Simona Eicke, Elisabeth Truernit, Sebastian Streb, Samuel C. Zeeman
Summary: Plastid metabolism plays a critical role in plant cells, with different isoforms of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) showing distinct contributions in different tissues. Loss of specific FBA isoforms can lead to growth defects, indicating the importance of these enzymes in plant development and metabolism. Redundancy and tissue-specific expression patterns of FBA isoforms help plants adapt to their environment and ensure survival.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kunkun Tu, Simon Buechele, Sharon Mitchell, Laura Stricker, Chun Liu, Christian Goldhahn, Julien Allaz, Yong Ding, Roman Guenther, Zhidong Zhang, Jianguo Sun, Sandro Stucki, Guido Panzarasa, Samuel C. Zeeman, Ingo Burgert, Javier Perez-Ramirez, Tobias Keplinger
Summary: The development of flow-through wood-based catalytic microreactors enables continuous and controllable hydrogen production. These structured catalysts exhibit highly adjustable hydrogen productivity and scalability, making them suitable for catalytic reactions and applications in the energy-water nexus.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Laure C. David, Sang-Kyu Lee, Eduard Bruderer, Melanie R. Abt, Michaela Fischer-Stettler, Marie-Aude Tschopp, Erik M. Solhaug, Katarzyna Sanchez, Samuel C. Zeeman
Summary: Beta-amylases (BAMs) play a crucial role in transitory starch degradation in chloroplasts, regulating the availability of photosynthetically fixed carbon over the diel cycle in plants. The characterization of BETA-AMYLASE 9 (BAM9) in Arabidopsis revealed its conservation in plants and unique regulation of starch breakdown compared to BAM4. BAM9 activates starch degradation and responds to environmental changes, making it a valuable gene target for managing carbohydrate availability in fluctuating conditions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikou Fotouhi, Michaela Fischer-Stettler, Gioia Lenzoni, Stephanie Stolz, Gaetan Glauser, Samuel C. Zeeman, Edward E. Farmer
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of ACA10 and ACA12 genes in maintaining tissue excitability and defense against insect attack in Arabidopsis. Additionally, the findings suggest that the plant vasculature plays a crucial role in electrical signaling failure.
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Vittoria Carluccio, Laure C. David, Joelle Claussen, Marco Sulley, Seun Raheemat Adeoti, Toyin Abdulsalam, Stefan Gerth, Samuel C. Zeeman, Andreas Gisel, Livia Stavolone
Summary: This study sheds light on the initial stages of root development in cassava by comparing storage roots (SR) and fibrous roots (FR). The researchers found that SR and FR follow different rhizogenic processes, with SR accumulating starch and sugars before swelling and having a distinct inner channel structure. These findings provide insights into the understanding of root development in cassava.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Barbara Pfister, Jessica M. Shields, Tobias Kockmann, Jonas Grossmann, Melanie R. Abt, Martha Stadler, Samuel C. Zeeman
Summary: This study used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a testbed to investigate the functions of plant starch biosynthetic enzymes and create diverse starch-like polymers. The results revealed unexpected effects of glucan biosynthesis on protein abundances and demonstrated that different enzyme ratios influenced glucan structure and solubility.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel C. Zeeman, Erik M. Solhaug
Summary: Starch metabolism is important for plant growth, but blocking its biosynthesis has species-specific effects.
Article
Plant Sciences
Olivier Michaud, Johanna Krahmer, Florian Galbier, Maud Lagier, Vinicius Costa Galvao, Yetkin Caka Ince, Martine Trevisan, Jana Knerova, Patrick Dickinson, Julian M. Hibberd, Samuel C. Zeeman, Christian Fankhauser
Summary: Leaves of shade-avoiding plants change their growth pattern and position in response to low red to far-red ratios encountered in dense plant communities. Transcription factors of the phytochrome-interacting factor (PIF) family induce auxin production, promoting leaf hyponasty. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been implicated in controlling leaf hyponasty, with LRFR regulating ABA response. This article's importance rating: 8 out of 10.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mercedes Thieme, Anton Hochmuth, Theresa Elisabeth Ilse, Jose A. Cuesta-Seijo, Szymon Stoma, Roger Meier, Simon Flyvbjerg Norrelykke, Pai Rosager Pedas, Ilka Braumann, Samuel C. Zeeman
Summary: Starch forms water-insoluble granules with semi-crystalline structures, and their size and morphology vary depending on the biological source. However, there is a lack of screening methods to identify differences in starch granule size and shape. This study presents two high-throughput approaches using flow cytometry and automated light microscopy for starch granule extraction and size determination. The effectiveness of these methods was demonstrated by screening over 10,000 barley lines and identifying heritable changes in granule ratios. The findings suggest that these approaches can be used to identify genes controlling starch traits and improve starch processing.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriel Deslandes-Herold, Martina Zanella, Erik Solhaug, Michaela Fischer-Stettler, Mayank Sharma, Leo Buergy, Cornelia Herrfurth, Maite Colinas, Ivo Feussner, Melanie R. Abt, Samuel C. Zeeman
Summary: The PRK/Rubisco shunt enhances the carbon efficiency of storage lipid biosynthesis in green Brassicaceae seeds. This pathway utilizes metabolites generated by the nonoxidative steps of the pentose phosphate pathway to recycle CO2 molecules released during fatty acid synthesis. Loss of PRK affects seed glycolysis, starch metabolism, and photosynthesis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ina Schlatholter, Giovanni A. L. Broggini, Sebastian Streb, Bruno Studer, Andrea Patocchi
Summary: Cisgenesis was used to introduce fire blight resistance to the apple cultivar 'Gala Galaxy' without affecting other tree-, flower-, or fruit-related traits. A 5-year field trial showed no significant differences between the cisgenic line C44.4.146 and control genotypes in terms of tree-, flower-, or fruit-related traits. However, fruits of C44.4.146 and its wild-type 'Gala Galaxy' were paler in color compared to non-tissue cultured 'Gala Galaxy' fruits.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hongfei Li, Kilian Duijts, Carlo Pasini, Joyce E. van Santen, Jasper Lamers, Thijs de Zeeuw, Francel Verstappen, Nan Wang, Samuel C. Zeeman, Diana Santelia, Yanxia Zhang, Christa Testerink
Summary: Acclimation of root growth is crucial for plants to survive salt stress. The halophyte Schrenkiella parvula exhibits better root growth response and physiological adjustments under salt stress compared to Arabidopsis thaliana, which provides insights into potential strategies for improving salt tolerance in plants. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the induction of sugar transporters and genes regulating cell expansion and suberization in S. parvula roots under salt stress.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy P. H. Wong, Michaela Fischer- Stettler, Samuel C. Zeeman, Tom J. Battin, Alexandre Persat, Terence Hwa
Summary: Bacterial gut commensals are affected by the complex mucosal environment, and the role of mechanics, including fluid flow, in shaping microbial communities is not well understood. This study demonstrates that fluid flow influences the spatial organization and composition of gut biofilm communities by affecting species interactions and metabolic processes. In particular, the transport of a metabolic by-product, dextran, promotes the formation of biofilms composed of Bacteroides fragilis downstream from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Strong flows, however, can limit the formation of B. fragilis biofilms by reducing the concentration of this public good. These findings suggest that physical factors like flow may play a role in shaping intestinal microbial communities and potentially impacting host health.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Aymar Abel Ganguin, Ivo Skorup, Sebastian Streb, Alaa Othman, Paola Luciani
Summary: This study introduces a new therapeutic approach using cell-derived nanovesicles (cdNVs) to address the lack of effective treatments for liver fibrosis. The cdNVs from LX-2 cells exhibit concentration-dependent fibrosis regression, linked to their biomolecular corona. This makes cdNVs a promising candidate for the development of liver fibrosis resolving therapeutics.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hirofumi Ishihara, Saleh Alseekh, Regina Feil, Pumi Perera, Gavin M. George, Piotr Niedzwiecki, Stephanie Arrivault, Samuel C. Zeeman, Alisdair R. Fernie, John E. Lunn, Alison M. Smith, Mark Stitt
Summary: The degradation of starch in the light is regulated by mechanisms similar to those operating at night. The rate of degradation depends on the time relative to dawn rather than dusk. Trehalose 6-phosphate inhibits degradation in the light. Starch degradation in the light plays an important role in stabilizing carbon availability and signaling, optimizing plant growth in natural light conditions.