Three-dimensional structures, substrate specificities and catalytic mechanisms of polysaccharide synthases.

植物壁多糖广泛应用于食品和纤维中，是人体营养中重要的膳食成分。目前尚不清楚植物合成这些多糖的确切机制，但这将揭示在重要作物物种中操纵其生物合成的潜在途径。例如，多糖的水平或结构可以修改，以提高其作为人类饮食中的抗癌剂的功效，提高动物饲料的消化率，或合成有药理价值的化合物。因此，经济、社会和环境效益将惠及生产者和消费者。

Plant wall polysaccharides are extensively used for food and fibre, and are important dietary components in human nutrition. A precise knowledge of mechanisms used by plants to synthesize these polysaccharides is unavailable, but would reveal potential routes to manipulate their biosynthesis in important crop species. For example, the levels or structures of polysaccharides might be modified to improve their efficacy as anti-cancer agents in human diets, to enhance digestibility of animal stock feeds, or to synthesise pharmologically valuable compounds. Thus, economic, social and environmental benefits will flow to both producers and consumers.