MANAN · Mannan-related enzymes of wheat endosperm
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-11-01 → 2018-10-31
- EU contribution
- €185,076
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Mannan-related enzymes of wheat endosperm
The MANAN project focuses on plant cell walls. These matrices, mainly made of polysaccharides (complex sugars), encompass plant cells. Cell wall polysaccharides are fundamental to plant biology and have a strong impact on the use of plant products in industrial processes. Studying cell wall polysaccharides helps to adapt crops to climate change, to improve the production of biofuels, and to increase the productivity of food and feed what is necessary to support the incoming growth of the global population. A better understanding of the biosynthesis and the functions of cell wall polysaccharides present in wheat grain can contribute to increase in a sustainable manner the yield of this staple food and have positive outcomes for its use and its processing. The MANAN project was carried out in INRA Nantes, France, and aimed to determine how one class of polysaccharides, named mannan, is biosynthesized in wheat grain and how this class impacts wheat grain development and the quality of flours.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
European society and economy relies on the productivity of staple food, such as wheat. Plant cell walls are a centrepiece of plant development and tuning their biosynthesis could improve the productivity and the quality of wheat grain. Although the structure of cell wall polysaccharides is relatively well-documented, little is known about their biosynthesis. The project proposes for the first time 1) to explore the structure, organisation and function of mannan, a cell wall polysaccharide that impacts on wheat grain development, and 2) to investigate the function of four putative genes involved in the mannan biosynthesis, using a combination of well established and new methodologies (enzymatic fingerprinting, FT-IR microspectroscopy and MALDI-MS imaging). This research is of potential interest to various industrial sectors (e.g., plant breeding, milling and biofuel industries) active in Europe and represents a good opportunity to improve competitiveness of European agriculture. Within the host institute (INRA, France), which is a World leader for agricultural sciences, the supervisor is internationally renowned for its contribution in the general understanding of plant cell walls. The host will offer the opportunity to the fellow to develop a sound knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology and will contribute to improve his managerial skills. In return, the fellow who has a strong expertise in microscopy and enzymatic activity assays will implement these techniques in the host institution. The fellow will have the opportunity to disseminate his knowledge during various events towards audiences of scientists, students and the general public. The fellow will access to all the facilities, logistics, and equipment necessary for the good implementation of his project. In summary, this innovative project will contribute to European excellence and will offer the training the fellow needs to pursue his career as an independent principal investigator in plant science.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT · ParisCoordinatorFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union