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. 1996 Aug;8(8):1353–1366. doi: 10.1105/tpc.8.8.1353

Preamylopectin Processing: A Mandatory Step for Starch Biosynthesis in Plants.

G Mouille 1, M L Maddelein 1, N Libessart 1, P Talaga 1, A Decq 1, B Delrue 1, S Ball 1
PMCID: PMC161254  PMID: 12239416

Abstract

It has been generally assumed that the [alpha]-(1->4)-linked and [alpha]-(1->6)-branched glucans of starch are generated by the coordinated action of elongation (starch synthases) and branching enzymes. We have identified a novel Chlamydomonas locus (STA7) that when defective leads to a wipeout of starch and its replacement by a small amount of glycogen-like material. Our efforts to understand the enzymological basis of this phenotype have led us to determine the selective disappearance of an 88-kD starch hydrolytic activity. We further demonstrate that this enzyme is a debranching enzyme. Cleavage of the [alpha]-(1->6) linkage in a branched precursor of amylopectin (preamylopectin) has provided us with the ground rules for understanding starch biosynthesis in plants. Therefore, we propose that amylopectin clusters are synthesized by a discontinuous mechanism involving a highly specific glucan trimming mechanism.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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