Engineering polysaccharides in plants

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Department Name: Biochemistry

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/N509620/1 30/09/2016 29/09/2022
1796471 Studentship EP/N509620/1 30/09/2016 29/09/2020 Louis Wilson
 
Description We have increased our understanding of the curious physical interactions required between enzymes in order to make xylan, an important plant cell wall polysaccharide. We are currently investigating why these interactions are required; however, these findings provide hints at how enzymes are localised to and within the Golgi apparatus.

We have revealed the atomic structure of a human enzyme that is related to the enzymes involved in xylan synthesis. This will likely have some breakthrough impact in the field, as there is no structure previously reported for this family of enzymes. The structure, which is essentially two enzymes combined into one protein, sheds insight on the synthesis of heparan sulfate and heparin, cell surface molecules that play important roles in cancer and infections. We have also been able to develop a method for monitoring the synthesis of heparan sulfate/heparin.

We have subsequently used this structure to predict and identify novel enzyme activities for the modification of xyloglucan, an important plant cell wall polysaccharide. We are now able to produce novel xyloglucan poly- and oligosaccharides, and have developed new methods to better characterise xyloglucan structures. As a result, we now have a better picture of the structures of some dietary fibres from foods, and understand better how they are digested in the intestines.
Exploitation Route The enzyme structure will permit new research questions and will useful to researchers investigating rare genetic disorders in humans involving defective heparan synthesis.
The techniques for determining xyloglucan structure will facilitate the work of others in this field. Our method for making novel oligosaccharides could be used to produce commercial compounds for research purposes. Our work will hopefully encourage others to further examine the full diversity in structure of plant fibres, which will lead to progress in our understanding of gut health.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
 
Description Glycosyltransferase structural biology 
Organisation Lund University
Department Department of Experimental Medical Science
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Protein purification, cryo-electron microscopy techniques, enzymatic assays
Collaborator Contribution Protein expression, enzymatic assays
Impact Upcoming high-impact structural biology paper
Start Year 2018
 
Description Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression systems 
Organisation Leaf Expression Systems
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We have provided feedback about expression vectors.
Collaborator Contribution Leaf Expression Systems have helped us to optimise our protein expressions in tobacco
Impact New protocols for protein expression
Start Year 2018