Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Polymeric Defense Barriers in Plants

生物聚合物作为植物的物理屏障，保护植物免受包括病原体在内的不利环境因素的侵害。两种生物聚合物，角质素和木质素，在植物发育过程中被化学和13C- NMR方法研究。这些天然产物的生物合成正在使用酶学和重组DNA方法进行研究。通过真菌转化和缺失分析，在基因水平上研究了角质酶的调控。降解果胶的酶也将进行类似的研究，它们在真菌发病机制中的作用将通过基因破坏来研究。本项目为植物防御屏障的生物化学和功能提供了基础信息。这些信息对于制定改善植物保护和生产的方法是必要的

Biopolymers serve as physical barriers of plants and protect them from adverse environmental factors including pathogens. Two biopolymers, cutin and suberin, are being investigated by chemical and 13C- NMR methods during plant development. The biosynthesis of these natural products is being studied using enzymology and recombinant DNA approaches. The regulation of the enzyme cutinase is being studied at the gene level by fungal transformation and deletion analysis. The enzymes that degrade pectin will also be similarly studied and their role in fungal pathogenesis will be studied by gene disruption. This project provides basic information on the biochemistry and function of the defensive barriers of plants. This information is needed to devise ways to improve plant protection and production.***//