title: Starch mobilization in leaves.
abstract: Starch mobilization is well understood in cereal endosperms, but both the pathway and the regulation of the process are poorly characterized in other types of plant organs. Arabidopsis leaves offer the opportunity for rapid progress in this area, because of the genomic resources available in this species and the ease with which starch synthesis and degradation can be monitored and manipulated. Progress in understanding three aspects of starch degradation is described: the role of disproportionating enzyme, the importance of phosphorolytic degradation, and new evidence about the involvement of a starch-phosphorylating enzyme in the degradative process. Major areas requiring further research are outlined.
authors.affiliation: John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. alison.smith@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zeeman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thorneycroft
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D006004:Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*; D024941:Starch Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D006004:Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D013213:Starch; D024941:Starch Phosphorylase; C020569:4 alpha-glucanotransferase; C435922:At1g10760 protein, Arabidopsis