Introduction and historical background

Abstract

This chapter provides the analyses of the cereal glucans and of paramylon from Euglena gracilis. The immunological and molecular biological approaches are being applied to study (1→3)-b-glucan synthesis, the (1→3)-β-glucan hydrolases and their biological functions. The application of the technologies has resulted in substantial new knowledge of the enzymes involved in both the biosynthesis and degradation of the (1→3)-β-glucans. The new tools that emerge from this research are making insights into the physiological roles of the (1→3)-β-glucans and the (1→3;1→4)-β-glucans possible. Having these genetic tools has also opened up the way to create plants, particularly cereals, with different con..