title: Plant cell wall engineering: applications in biofuel production and improved human health.
abstract: Plant cell walls consist largely of cellulose, non-cellulosic polysaccharides and lignin. Concerted attempts are underway to convert wall polysaccharides from crop plant residues into renewable transport fuels and other valuable products, and to exploit the dietary benefits of cereal grain wall polysaccharides in human health. Attempts to improve plant performance for these applications have involved the manipulation of the levels and structures of wall components. Some successes in altering non-cellulosic polysaccharides has been achieved, but it would appear that drastic changes in cellulose are more difficult to engineer. Nevertheless, future prospects for both genetically modified (GM) and non-GM technologies to modify plant cell wall composition and structure remain bright, and will undoubtedly find applications beyond the current focus on human health and biofuel production.
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: geoff.fincher@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Geoffrey B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Fincher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056804:Biofuels / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D060846:Cell Engineering; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism / Q000600:supply & distribution; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D010209:Paper; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D059205:Renewable Energy
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D011134:Polysaccharides; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin