Bioengineering and Molecular Biology of Plant Pathways

Dedication

Contributors to Volume 1

Introduction to the Series and Acknowledgements

Preface to volume 1

Prologue

Metabolic Organization in Plants: A Challenge for the Metabolic Engineer

1 Introduction

2 Plant Metabolic Networks and Their Organization

3 Tools for Analyzing Network Structure and Performance

4 Integration of Plant Metabolism

5 Summary

Enzyme Engineering

1 Introduction

2 Theoretical Considerations

3 Practical Considerations for Engineering Enzymes

4 Opportunities for Plant Improvement Through Engineered Enzymes and Proteins

5 Summary

Genetic Engineering of Amino Acid Metabolism in Plants

1 Introduction

2 Glutamine, Glutamate, Aspartate, and Asparagine are Central Regulators of Nitrogen Assimilation, Metabolism, and Transport

3 The Aspartate Family Pathway that is Responsible for Synthesis of the Essential Amino Acids Lysine, Threonine, Methionine, and Isoleucine

4 Regulation of Methionine Biosynthesis

5 Engineering Amino Acid Metabolism to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Plants for Nonruminants and Ruminants

6 Future Prospects

7 Summary

Engineering Photosynthetic Pathways

1 Introduction

2 Identification of Limiting Steps in the PCR Cycle

3 Engineering CO2‐Fixation Enzymes

4 Engineering Post‐RuBisCO Reactions

5 Summary

Genetic Engineering of Seed Storage Proteins

1 Introduction

2 Storage Protein Modification for the Improvement of Seed Protein Quality

3 Use of Seed Storage Proteins for Protein Quality Improvements in Nonseed Crops

4 Modification of Grain Biophysical Properties

5 Transgenic Modifications that Enhance the Utility of Seed Storage Proteins

6 Summary and Future Prospects

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants: Prospects for Genetic Engineering

1 Introduction

2 The Many Forms of Cellulose—A Brief Introduction to the Structure and Different Crystalline Forms of Cellulose

3 Biochemistry of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants

4 Molecular Biology of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants

5 Mechanism of Cellulose Synthesis

6 Prospects for Genetic Engineering of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Plants

7 Summary

Metabolic Engineering of the Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Vegetable Oils

1 Introduction

2 TAG Synthesis

3 Control of TAG Composition

4 Summary

Pathways for the Synthesis of Polyesters in Plants: Cutin, Suberin, and Polyhydroxyalkanoates

1 Introduction

2 Cutin and Suberin

3 Polyhydroxyalkanoate

Plant Sterol Methyltransferases: Phytosterolomic Analysis, Enzymology, and Bioengineering Strategies

1 Introduction

2 Pathways of Phytosterol Biosynthesis

3 Phytosterolomics

4 Enzymology and Evolution of the SMT

5 Bioengineering Strategies for Generating Plants with Modified Sterol Compositions

Engineering Plant Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathways: Progress and Prospects

1 Introduction

2 Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids

3 Tetrahydrobenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids

4 Tropane Alkaloids

5 Summary

Engineering Formation of Medicinal Compounds in Cell Cultures

1 Introduction

2 Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Secondary Metabolites

3 Cell Culture and Metabolite Production

4 Beyond the Obstacles: Molecular Biological Approaches to Improve Productivity of Secondary Metabolites in Plant Cells

5 Future Perspectives

6 Summary

Genetic Engineering for Salinity Stress Tolerance

6 Plant Signal Transduction for Adaptation to Salinity

7 ABA is a Major Mediator of Plant Stress Response Signaling

8 Summary

Metabolic Engineering of Plant Allyl/Propenyl Phenol and Lignin Pathways: Future Potential for Biofuels/Bioenergy, Polymer Intermediates, and Specialty Chemicals?

1 Introduction

2 Lignin Formation and Manipulation

3 Current Sources/Markets for Specialty Allyl/Propenyl Phenols

4 Biosynthesis of Allyl and Propenyl Phenols and Related Phenylpropanoid Moieties

5 Potential for Allyl/Propenyl Phenols?

6 Summary

Author Index

Subject Index