Causal Relations Among Starch Biosynthesis, Structure, and Properties

• DOI: 10.1007/s40362-014-0016-0
• Publication Date: 2014-03-04T14:53:57Z
• Authors: Kai Wang; Robert J. Henry; Robert G. Gilbert
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Properties; Starch; Biosynthesis; Molecular structure; Enzymes

Starch, an important carbohydrate with widespread applications in human foods, animal feeds, and many industrial products, is synthesized by plants the action of a complex system involving enzymes. The differing activities these enzymes contribute to variations starch structure among different plant species, botanical organs, genetic backgrounds, thus affect physicochemical properties end-use functions starch. demand for starches particular functional increasing, but ability produce novel still limited. Starches specific can potentially be produced biotechnical modification biosynthetic pathway; however, this requires further understanding biosynthesis–structure–properties relationships. This review summarizes state art causal relationships: roles main starch-synthesizing on structure, hierarchical starch, advanced molecular characterization methods, impact some properties. A better relationships biosynthesis, provides direction targeted breeding programs desired characteristics.