To explain the low levels of starch, high levels of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan, and thick cell walls in grains of Brachypodium distachyon L. relative to those in other Pooideae, aspects of grain development were compared between B. distachyon and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Cell proliferation, cell expansion, and endoreduplication were reduced in B. distachyon relative to barley and, consistent with t...

Starch Capped CuS Nanocrystals In article number 2103461, Christian Engelbrekt, Lixin Ma, and co-workers report a one-pot synthesis of starch-capped ultrathin nanocrystals with efficient cancer photothermal therapy capacity. The starch layer endows enhanced efficacy by increasing the free carrier density effectively assigning localized surface plasmon resonance at specific optical wavelength.

Two patients with histologically diagnosed starch induced granulomatous peritonitis (SGP) have been shown to have cell mediated immunity to corn starch using the techniques of macrophage migration inhibition and lymphocyte DNA synthesis. Control groups of normal subjects, patients with uncomplicated laparotomy, and patients with Crohn's disease were negative in both tests. Lymphocytes from two ...

The expression of genes involved in starch synthesis in wheat was analyzed together with the accumulation profiles of soluble sugars, starch, protein, and starch granule distribution in developing caryopses obtained from the same biological materials used for profiling of gene expression using DNA microarrays. Multiple expression patterns were detected for the different starch biosynthetic gene...

Starch is the major storage carbohydrate in higher plants, with many important functions. In photosynthesizing leaves, starch accumulates during the day and is remobilized at night to support continued respiration, Suc export, and growth in the dark (Geiger and Servaites, 1994). In this context, starch has been identified as a major integrator in the regulation of plant growth to cope with cont...

Bio-functionalization of nanoparticles has received enormous attention due to reduced toxicity as well as stability in colloidal state which prevents the nanoparticles from aggregation [1,2]. The biomolecules being used for functionalization vary from simple to complex macromolecules [3]. Starch, a natural polymer widely used in many industries as raw material was chosen for synthesis of silver...

The best conditions for synthesis of starch hydroxypropyl sulphate as per the dry method were firstly established. This was done through a thorough investigation into factors affecting the synthesis including concentrations of both the NaOH catalyst and the 2-hydroxy-3-chloropropyl sulphate along with duration and temperature of the reaction. The resultant newly synthesized 2-hydroxy-3-chloropr...

The domestication of starch crops underpinned the development of human civilisation, yet we still do not fully understand how plants make starch. Starch is composed of glucose polymers that are branched (amylopectin) or linear (amylose). The amount of amylose strongly influences the physico-chemical behaviour of starchy foods during cooking and of starch mixtures in non-food manufacturing proce...

Starch is the major storage carbohydrate in higher plants, with many important functions. In photosynthesizing leaves, starch accumulates during the day and is remobilized at night to support continued respiration, Suc export, and growth in the dark (Geiger and Servaites, 1994). In this context, starch has been identified as a major integrator in the regulation of plant growth to cope with cont...

Defoliation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) results in a cyclic pattern of starch degradation followed by reaccumulation in taproots. Characterization of changes in anatomical distribution of starch grains in taproots will aid our understanding of biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved in starch metabolism in taproots of this species. Our objectives were to determine the influence of...