Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5
From Plant Cell Walls to
Biofuels—
Arabidopsis
thaliana
Model
Sivakumar Pattathil, Utku Avci, and Ajaya Kumar Biswal
University of Georgia
Ajay K. Badhan
University of Alberta
contents
5.1 Biofuel Production and Challenges ........................................................................................ 76
5.1.1 Need for Biofuels ........................................................................................................ 76
5.1.2 Current and Potential Raw Materials for Biofuel Production .................................... 76
5.1.3 Challenges in Biofuel Production from Plant Cell Walls ........................................... 77
5.2 Plant Cell Wall ........................................................................................................................ 78
5.2.1 Structural Overview of Plant Cell Walls .................................................................... 78
5.2.2
Arabidopsis
Cell Wall Research and Current Understanding of Plant Cell Walls .... 78
5.2.3 Lignin.......................................................................................................................... 79
5.2.4 Cellulose Microfibrils ................................................................................................. 82
5.2.4.1 Cellulose Synthase Genes ............................................................................ 82
5.2.4.2 Effects of Mutations on
CesA
Genes ........................................................... 82
5.2.5 Pectin .......................................................................................................................... 83
5.2.5.1 Pectin Structure ........................................................................................... 83
5.2.5.2 Localization, Function, and Mechanism of Pectin Biosynthesis ................. 84
5.2.5.3 Genes Involved in HG Biosynthesis ............................................................ 84
5.2.5.4 Genes Involved in RG-I Biosynthesis .......................................................... 85
5.2.5.5 Genes Involved in XGA Biosynthesis .......................................................... 85
5.2.5.6 Genes Involved in RG-II Biosynthesis ......................................................... 85
5.2.6 Cross-Linking Glycans (Hemicelluloses) ................................................................... 85
5.2.6.1 Xylans ........................................................................................................... 86
5.2.6.2 Xyloglucans .................................................................................................. 88
5.2.6.3 Cell-Wall-Associated Proteins ..................................................................... 89
5.2.6.4 Arabinogalactan Proteins............................................................................. 90
5.3 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 90
Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................ 91
References ........................................................................................................................................ 91
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