Distribution, structure and biosynthetic gene families of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan in Sorghum bicolor. Issue 4 (31st March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ermawar, Riksfardini A.; Collins, Helen M.; Byrt, Caitlin S.; Betts, Natalie S.; Henderson, Marilyn; Shirley, Neil J.; Schwerdt, Julian; Lahnstein, Jelle; Fincher, Geoffrey B.; Burton, Rachel A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrative plant biology. Volume 57:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2015-03-31
• Subjects: Plants -- Periodicals; Plants -- China -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9072

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jipb12338-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>In cereals, the presence of soluble polysaccharides including (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan has downstream implications for human health, animal feed and biofuel applications. <italic>Sorghum bicolor</italic> (L.) Moench is a versatile crop, but there are limited reports regarding the content of such soluble polysaccharides. Here, the amount of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan present in sorghum tissues was measured using a Megazyme assay. Very low amounts were present in the grain, ranging from 0.16%–0.27% (w/w), while there was a greater quantity in vegetative tissues at 0.12–1.71% (w/w). The fine structure of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan, as denoted by the ratio of cellotriosyl and cellotetraosyl residues, was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ranged from 2.6–3:1 in the grain, while ratios in vegetative tissues were lower at 2.1–2.6:1. The distribution of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan was examined using a specific antibody and observed with fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Micrographs showed a variable distribution of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan influenced by temporal and spatial factors. The sorghum orthologs of genes implicated in the synthesis of (1, 3;1, 4)‐β‐glucan in other cereals, such as the <italic>Cellulose synthase‐like</italic> (<italic>Csl</italic>) <italic>F</italic> and <italic>H</italic> gene families were defined. Transcript profiling of these genes across sorghum tissues was carried out using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, indicating that, as in other cereals, <italic>CslF6</italic> transcripts dominated.</p> </sec> </abstract>