Seed Cell Wall Storage Polysaccharides: Models to Understand Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Degradation

Cell wall storage polysaccharides (CWSPs) are found as the principal storage compounds in seeds of many taxonomically important groups of plants. These groups developed extremely efficient biochemical mechanisms to disassemble cell walls and use the products of hydrolysis for growth. To accumulate these storage polymers, developing seeds also contain relatively high activities of noncellulosic polysaccharide synthases and thus are interesting models to seek the discovery of genes and enzymes related to polysaccharide biosynthesis. CWSP systems offer opportunities to understand phenomena ranging from polysaccharide deposition during seed maturation to the control of source-sink relationship in developing seedlings. By studying polysaccharide biosynthesis and degradation and the consequences for cell and physiological behavior, we can use these models to develop future biotechnological applications.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil (FAPESP/BIOTA-Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)[98/05124-8]

National Institute of Science and Technology of Bioethanol (FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo/CNPq Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil (FAPESP Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)[07/59708-1]

Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)