Toward tailored synthesis of functional polysaccharides in plants.
Polysaccharides derived from plant cell wall materials play an important role in our diet. Dietary fibers work as prebiotics in the human gut, and some plant polysaccharides are known to have more direct beneficial impacts on human health. In the food industry, plant fiber materials, such as gums are widely used as structural ingredients. Complex polysaccharides account for most of the plant cell wall, and their biosynthetic pathways and their regulation are largely unknown. Systematic collaborative efforts for defining the structure and impact on human health of beneficial fibers and elucidating the biosynthetic pathways and their regulation will open a great potential for biotechnological applications.
Geshi
Naomi
N
VKR Research Centre-Proactive Plants, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. nge@life.ku.dk
Petersen
Bent Larsen
BL
Scheller
Henrik Vibe
HV
D001709:Biotechnology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D011134:Polysaccharides