Starch Basic Science to Biotechnology [Hardcover]

This volume presents the physiological and biochemical aspects of storage carbohydrates, or starch granules, in plants. This up-to-date and thorough resource carefully integrates fundamental knowledge with the most recent information on the starch granule. It discusses the chemistry of the starch granule and the biochemistry, molecular biology, plant physiology, and genetics of plant starch synthesis. The books also describes the implications of these studies for theseed, biotechnology, and modified starch industries.

• Written for a broad readership
• Emphasizes the recent findings on the properties of starch biosynthetic enzymes and on studies describing their localization
• Details the implications these studies have on the seed, biotechnology, and modified starch industries
• Includes numerous references to the original literature
• Introduces the reader to the most important individuals and discoveries in the field

Preface. Abbreviations. Acknowledgments. Occurrence of Starch. Physico-Chemical Structure of the Starch Granule. The Biosynthetic Reactions of Starch Synthesis. ADPglucose Pyrophosphorylase. Starch Synthases. Branching Enzymes.The Site of Starch Synthesis in Non-Photosynthetic Plant Tissues. Regulation of the Starch Biosynthetic Pathway: Targets for Biotechnology. Starch Accumulation in Photosynthetic Cells. Starch Degradation. Industrial Applications of Starch.Mirta N. Sivak was born in Buenos Aires. She trained as a plant biologist and later as a starch biochemist with Carlos Cardini and Juana Tandecarz. After obtaining her Doctorate and spending a decade in England working on photosynthetic carbon assimilation, she continues her work on starch and glycogen synthesis at Michigan State University, where she is a Professor of Biochemistry. She has published extensively in these fields and has lectured on the subjects in Aml£“