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Starch is a biopolymer for which, despite its simple composition, understanding the precise mechanism behind its formation and regulation has been challenging. Several approaches and bioanalytical tools can be used to expand the knowledge on the different parts involved in the starch metabolism. In this sense, a comprehensive analysis targeting two of the main groups of molecules involved in this process: proteins, as effectors/regulators of the starch metabolism, and maltodextrins as starch components and degradation products, was conducted in this research work using potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree) as model of study. On one side, proteins physically interacting to potato starch were isolated and analyzed through mass spectrometry and western blot for their identification. Alternatively, starch interacting proteins were explored in potato tubers from transgenic plants having antisense inhibition of starch-related enzymes and on tubers stored under variable environmental conditions. Most of the proteins recovered from the starch granules corresponded to previously described proteins having a specific role in the starch metabolic pathway. Another set of proteins could be grouped as protease inhibitors, which were found weakly interacting to starch. Variations in the protein profile obtained after electrophoresis separation became clear when tubers were stored under different temperatures, indicating a differential expression of proteins in response to changing environmental conditions.
On the other side, since maltodextrin metabolism is thought to be involved in both starch initiation and degradation, soluble maltooligosaccharide content in potato tubers was analyzed in this work under diverse experimental variables. For this, tuber disc samples from wild type and transgenic lines strongly repressing either the plastidial or cytosolic form of the -glucan phosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase were incubated with glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and glucose-1-phosphate solutions to evaluate the influence of such enzymes on the conversion of the carbon sources into soluble maltodextrins, in comparison to wild-type samples. Relative maltodextrin amounts analyzed through capillary electrophoresis equipped with laser-induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) revealed that tuber discs could immediately uptake glucose-1-phosphate and use it to produce maltooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of up to 30 (DP30), in contrast to transgenic tubers with strong repression of the plastidial glucan phosphorylase. The results obtained from the maltodextrin analysis support previous indications that a specific transporter for glucose-1-phosphate may exist in both the plant cells and the plastidial membranes, thereby allowing a glucose-6-phosphate independent transport. Furthermore, it confirms that the plastidial glucan phosphorylase is responsible for producing longer maltooligosaccharides in the plastids by catalyzing a glucan polymerization reaction when glucose-1-phosphate is available. All these findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of the plastidial glucan phosphorylase as a key enzyme directly involved in the synthesis and degradation of glucans and their implication on starch metabolism.
Starch is an essential biopolymer produced by plants. Starch can be made inside source tissue (such as leaves) and sink tissue (such as fruits and tubers). Nevertheless, understanding how starch metabolism is regulated in source and sink tissues is fundamental for improving crop production.
Despite recent advances in the understanding of starch and its metabolism, there is still a knowledge gap in the source and sink metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize the state of the art regarding starch structure and metabolism inside plants. In addition, this study aimed to elucidate the regulation of starch metabolism in the source tissue using the leaves of a model organism, Arabidopsis thaliana, and the sink tissue of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fruit as a commercial crop.
The research regarding the source tissue will focus on the effect of the blockage of starch degradation on the starch parameter in leaves, especially in those of A. thaliana, which lack both disproportionating enzyme 2 (DPE2) and plastidial glucan phosphorylase 1 (PHS1) (dpe2/phs1). The additional elimination of phosphoglucan water dikinase (PWD), starch excess 4 (SEX4), isoamylase 3 (ISA3), and disproportionating enzyme 1 (DPE1) in the dpe2/phs1 mutant background demonstrates the alteration of starch granule number per chloroplast. This study provides insights into the control mechanism of granule number regulation in the chloroplast.
The research regarding the sink tissue will emphasize the relationship between starch metabolism and the lipid metabolism pathway in oil palm fruits. This study was conducted to observe the alteration of starch parameters, metabolite abundance, and gene expression during oil palm fruit development with different oil yields. This study shows that starch and sucrose can be used as biomarkers for oil yield in oil palms. In addition, it is revealed that the enzyme isoforms related to starch metabolism influence the oil production in oil palm fruit.
Overall, this thesis presents novel information regarding starch metabolism in the source tissue of A.thaliana and the sink tissue of E.guineensis. The results shown in this thesis can be applied to many applications, such as modifying the starch parameter in other plants for specific needs.
For starch metabolism to take place correctly, various enzymes and proteins acting on the starch granule surface are crucial. Recently, two non-catalytic starch-binding proteins, pivotal for normal starch turnover in Arabidopsis leaves, namely, EARLY STARVATION 1 (ESV1) and its homolog LIKE EARLY STARVATION 1 (LESV), have been identified. Both share nearly 38% sequence homology. As ESV1 has been found to influence glucan phosphorylation via two starch-related dikinases, alpha-glucan, water dikinase (GWD) and phosphoglucan, water dikinase (PWD), through modulating the surface glucan structures of the starch granules and thus affecting starch degradation, we assess the impact of its homolog LESV on starch metabolism. Thus, the 65-kDa recombinant protein LESV and the 50-kDa ESV1 were analyzed regarding their influence on the action of GWD and PWD on the surface of the starch granules. We included starches from various sources and additionally assessed the effect of these non-enzymatic proteins on other starch-related enzymes, such as starch synthases (SSI and SSIII), starch phosphorylases (PHS1), isoamylase and beta-amylase. The data obtained indicate that starch phosphorylation, hydrolyses and synthesis were affected by LESV and ESV1. Furthermore, incubation with LESV and ESV1 together exerted an additive effect on starch phosphorylation. In addition, a stable alteration of the glucan structures at the starch granule surface following treatment with LESV and ESV1 was observed. Here, we discuss all the observed changes that point to modifications in the glucan structures at the surface of the native starch granules and present a model to explain the existing processes.
Starch is a complex carbohydrate polymer produced by plants and especially by crops in huge amounts. It consists of amylose and amylopectin, which have alpha-1,4-and alpha-1,6-linked glucose units. Despite this simple chemistry, the entire starch metabolism is complex, containing various (iso)enzymes/proteins. However, whose interplay is still not yet fully understood. Starch is essential for humans and animals as a source of nutrition and energy. Nowadays, starch is also commonly used in non-food industrial sectors for a variety of purposes. However, native starches do not always satisfy the needs of a wide range of (industrial) applications. This review summarizes the structural properties of starch, analytical methods for starch characterization, and in planta starch modifications.
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is the most productive oil-producing crop per hectare of land. The oil that accumulates in the mesocarp tissue of the fruit is the highest observed among fruit-producing plants. A comparative analysis between high-, medium-, and low-yielding oil palms, particularly during fruit development, revealed unique characteristics. Metabolomics analysis was able to distinguish accumulation patterns defining of the various developmental stages and oil yield. Interestingly, high- and medium-yielding oil palms exhibited substantially increased sucrose levels compared to low-yielding palms. In addition, parameters such as starch granule morphology, granule size, total starch content, and starch chain length distribution (CLD) differed significantly among the oil yield categories with a clear correlation between oil yield and various starch parameters. These results provide new insights into carbohydrate and starch metabolism for biosynthesis of oil palm fruits, indicating that starch and sucrose can be used as novel, easy-to-analyze, and reliable biomarker for oil yield.
The initiation of starch granule formation and the mechanism controlling the number of granules per plastid have been some of the most elusive aspects of starch metabolism. This review covers the advances made in the study of these processes. The analyses presented herein depict a scenario in which starch synthase isoform 4 (SS4) provides the elongating activity necessary for the initiation of starch granule formation. However, this protein does not act alone; other polypeptides are required for the initiation of an appropriate number of starch granules per chloroplast. The functions of this group of polypeptides include providing suitable substrates (maltooligosaccharides) to SS4, the localization of the starch initiation machinery to the thylakoid membranes, and facilitating the correct folding of SS4. The number of starch granules per chloroplast is tightly regulated and depends on the developmental stage of the leaves and their metabolic status. Plastidial phosphorylase (PHS1) and other enzymes play an essential role in this process since they are necessary for the synthesis of the substrates used by the initiation machinery. The mechanism of starch granule formation initiation in Arabidopsis seems to be generalizable to other plants and also to the synthesis of long-term storage starch. The latter, however, shows specific features due to the presence of more isoforms, the absence of constantly recurring starch synthesis and degradation, and the metabolic characteristics of the storage sink organs.
Starch and Glycogen Analyses
(2020)
For complex carbohydrates, such as glycogen and starch, various analytical methods and techniques exist allowing the detailed characterization of these storage carbohydrates. In this article, we give a brief overview of the most frequently used methods, techniques, and results. Furthermore, we give insights in the isolation, purification, and fragmentation of both starch and glycogen. An overview of the different structural levels of the glucans is given and the corresponding analytical techniques are discussed. Moreover, future perspectives of the analytical needs and the challenges of the currently developing scientific questions are included
Starch and Glycogen Analyses
(2020)
For complex carbohydrates, such as glycogen and starch, various analytical methods and techniques exist allowing the detailed characterization of these storage carbohydrates. In this article, we give a brief overview of the most frequently used methods, techniques, and results. Furthermore, we give insights in the isolation, purification, and fragmentation of both starch and glycogen. An overview of the different structural levels of the glucans is given and the corresponding analytical techniques are discussed. Moreover, future perspectives of the analytical needs and the challenges of the currently developing scientific questions are included
In den letzten Jahrzehnten fand auch in der Beschichtungsindustrie ein Umdenken hin zu umweltfreundlicheren Farben und Lacken statt. Allerdings basieren auch neue Lösungen meist nicht auf Biopolymeren und in einem noch geringeren Anteil auf wasserbasierten Beschichtungssystemen aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen. Dies stellt den Anknüpfungspunkt dieser Arbeit dar, in der untersucht wurde, ob das Biopolymer Stärke das Potenzial zum wasserbasierten Filmbildner für Farben und Lacke besitzt. Dabei müssen angelehnt an etablierte synthetische Marktprodukte die folgenden Kriterien erfüllt werden: Die wässrige Dispersion muss mindestens einen 30%igen Feststoffgehalt haben, bei Raumtemperatur verarbeitet werden können und Viskositäten zwischen 10^2-10^3 mPa·s aufweisen. Die finale Beschichtung muss einen geschlossenen Film bilden und sehr gute Haftfestigkeiten zu einer spezifischen Oberfläche, in dieser Arbeit Glas, besitzen. Als Grundlage für die Modifizierung der Stärke wurde eine Kombination von molekularem Abbau und chemischer Funktionalisierung ausgewählt. Da nicht bekannt war, welchen Einfluss die Stärkeart, die gewählte Abbaureaktion als auch verschiedene Substituenten auf die Dispersionsherstellung und deren Eigenschaften sowie die Beschichtungseigenschaften ausüben könnten, wurden die strukturellen Parameter getrennt voneinander untersucht.
Das erste Themengebiet beinhaltete den oxidativen Abbau von Kartoffel- und Palerbsenstärke mittels des Hypochlorit-Abbaus (OCl-) und des ManOx-Abbaus (H2O2, KMnO4). Mit beiden Abbaureaktionen konnten vergleichbare gewichtsmittlere Molmassen (Mw) von 2·10^5-10^6 g/mol (GPC-MALS) hergestellt werden. Allerdings führten die gewählten Reaktionsbedingungen beim ManOx-Abbau zur Bildung von Gelpartikeln. Diese lagen im µm-Bereich (DLS und Kryo-REM-Messungen) und hatten zur Folge, dass die ManOx-Proben deutlich erhöhte Viskositäten (c: 7,5 %; 9-260 mPa·s) im Vergleich zu den OCl--Proben (4-10 mPa·s) bei scherverdünnendem Verhalten besaßen und die Eigenschaften von viskoelastischen Gelen (G‘ > G‘‘) zeigten. Des Weiteren wiesen sie reduzierte Heißwasserlöslichkeiten (95 °C, vorrangig: 70-99 %) auf. Der OCl--Abbau führte zu hydrophileren (Carboxylgruppengehalt bis zu 6,1 %; ManOx: bis zu 3,1 %), nach 95 °C-Behandlung vollständig wasserlöslichen abgebauten Stärken, die ein Newtonsches Fließverhalten mit Eigenschaften einer viskoelastischen Flüssigkeit (G‘‘ > G‘) hatten. Die OCl--Proben konnten im Vergleich zu den ManOx-Produkten (10-20 %) zu konzentrierteren Dispersionen (20-40 %) verarbeitet werden, die gleichzeitig die Einschränkung von anwendungsrelevanten Mw auf < 7·10^5 g/mol zuließen (Konzentration sollte > 30 % sein). Außerdem führten nur die OCl--Proben der Kartoffelstärke zu transparenten (alle anderen waren opak) geschlossenen Beschichtungsfilmen. Somit hebt sich die Kombination von OCl--Abbau und Kartoffelstärke mit Hinblick auf die Endanwendung ab.
Das zweite Themengebiet umfasste Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Ester- und Hydroxyalkylether-Substituenten auf Basis einer industriell abgebauten Kartoffelstärke (Mw: 1,2·10^5 g/mol) vor allem auf die Dispersionsherstellung, die rheologischen Eigenschaften der Dispersionen und die Beschichtungseigenschaften in Kombination mit Glassubstraten. Dazu wurden Ester und Ether mit DS/MS-Werten von 0,07-0,91 synthetisiert. Die Derivate konnten zu wasserbasierten Dispersionen mit Konzentrationen von 30-45 % verarbeitet werden, wobei bei hydrophoberen Modifikaten ein Co-Lösemittel, Diethylenglycolmonobutylether (DEGBE), eingesetzt werden musste. Die Feststoffgehalte sanken dabei für beide Derivatklassen vor allem mit zunehmender Alkylkettenlänge. Die anwendungsrelevanten Viskositäten (323-1240 mPa·s) stiegen auf Grund von Wechselwirkungen tendenziell mit DS/MS und Alkylkettenlänge an. Hinsichtlich der Beschichtungseigenschaften erwiesen sich die Ester vergleichend zu den Ethern als die bevorzugte Substituentenklasse, da nur die Ester geschlossene, defektfreie und mehrheitlich transparente Beschichtungsfilme bildeten, die exzellente bis sehr gute Haftfestigkeiten (ISO Klasse: 0 und 1) auf Glas besaßen. Die Ether bildeten mehrheitlich brüchige Filme. Basierend auf der Kombination der Ergebnisse aus Lösemittelaustausch, den rheologischen Untersuchungen und zusätzlichen Oberflächenspannungsmessungen (30-61 mN/m) konnte geschlossen werden, dass wahrscheinlich fehlende oder schlechte Haftfestigkeiten vorrangig akkumuliertem Wasser in den Beschichtungsfilmen (visuell: trüb oder weiß) geschuldet sind, während die Brüchigkeit vermutlich auf Wechselwirkungen (H-Brücken Wechselwirkungen, hydrophobe Wechselwirkungen) zwischen den Polymeren zurückgeführt werden kann.
Insgesamt scheint die Kombination aus Kartoffelstärke basierend auf dem OCl--Abbau mit Mw < 7·10^5 g/mol und einem Estersubstituenten eine gute Wahl für wasserbasierte Dispersionen mit hohen Feststoffkonzentrationen (> 30 %), guter Filmbildung und exzellenten Haftungen auf Glas zu sein.
Irradiance from sunlight changes in a sinusoidal manner during the day, with irregular fluctuations due to clouds, and light-dark shifts at dawn and dusk are gradual. Experiments in controlled environments typically expose plants to constant irradiance during the day and abrupt light-dark transitions. To compare the effects on metabolism of sunlight versus artificial light regimes, Arabidopsis thaliana plants were grown in a naturally illuminated greenhouse around the vernal equinox, and in controlled environment chambers with a 12-h photoperiod and either constant or sinusoidal light profiles, using either white fluorescent tubes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) tuned to a sunlight-like spectrum as the light source. Rosettes were sampled throughout a 24-h diurnal cycle for metabolite analysis. The diurnal metabolite profiles revealed that carbon and nitrogen metabolism differed significantly between sunlight and artificial light conditions. The variability of sunlight within and between days could be a factor underlying these differences. Pairwise comparisons of the artificial light sources (fluorescent versus LED) or the light profiles (constant versus sinusoidal) showed much smaller differences. The data indicate that energy-efficient LED lighting is an acceptable alternative to fluorescent lights, but results obtained from plants grown with either type of artificial lighting might not be representative of natural conditions.