Ebook: Nucleic Acids and Proteins in Plants I: Structure, Biochemistry and Physiology of Proteins

D. BOULTER and B. PARTHIER At the time of the former edition of the Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, approximately 25 years ago, no complete plant protein amino acid sequences or nucleic acid sequences had been determined. Although the structure of DNA and its function as the genetic material had just been reported, little detail was known of the mechanism of its action, and D. G. CATCHSIDE was to write in the first chapter of the first volume of the Encyclopedia: "There is a consider­ able body of evidence that the gene acts as a unit of physiological action through the control of individual enzymes". No cell-free transcription and pro­ tein-synthesizing systems were available and the whole range of powerful meth­ ods of recombinant DNA technology was still to be developed. Today for the first time with plant systems, it is possible not only to describe their molecular biology but also to manipulate it, i. e. , to move from a description to a technological phase. The properties of living systems are inscribed by those of the proteins and nucleic acids which they synthesize. Proteins, due to their very large size, occur as macromolecules in colloidal solution or associated in supra-molecular colloi­ dal form. The colloidal state confers low thermal conductivity, low diffusion coefficients and high viscosity, properties which buffer a biological system from the effects of a changing environment. Biological systems not only have great stability, but also the capacity to reproduce.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XX
Introduction....Pages 1-2
Front Matter....Pages 3-3
Ammonia Assimilation and Amino Acid Metabolism....Pages 5-64
Transfer RNA and Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Plants....Pages 65-112
Ribosomes, Polysomes and the Translation Process....Pages 113-135
Post-Translational Modifications....Pages 136-168
Protein Degradation....Pages 169-188
Physiological Aspects of Protein Turnover....Pages 189-228
Structures of Plant Proteins....Pages 229-290
Protein Types and Distribution....Pages 291-345
Cereal Storage Proteins: Structure and Role in Agriculture and Food Technology....Pages 346-369
Biochemistry and Physiology of Leaf Proteins....Pages 370-400
Microtubule Proteins and P-Proteins....Pages 401-437
Plant Peptides....Pages 438-458
Immunology....Pages 459-502
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Seed Development....Pages 505-558
Protein and Nucleic Acid Synthesis During Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth....Pages 559-591
Leaf Senescence....Pages 592-636
Macromolecular Aspects of Cell Wall Differentiation....Pages 637-655
Back Matter....Pages 657-770

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XX
Introduction....Pages 1-2
Front Matter....Pages 3-3
Ammonia Assimilation and Amino Acid Metabolism....Pages 5-64
Transfer RNA and Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases in Plants....Pages 65-112
Ribosomes, Polysomes and the Translation Process....Pages 113-135
Post-Translational Modifications....Pages 136-168
Protein Degradation....Pages 169-188
Physiological Aspects of Protein Turnover....Pages 189-228
Structures of Plant Proteins....Pages 229-290
Protein Types and Distribution....Pages 291-345
Cereal Storage Proteins: Structure and Role in Agriculture and Food Technology....Pages 346-369
Biochemistry and Physiology of Leaf Proteins....Pages 370-400
Microtubule Proteins and P-Proteins....Pages 401-437
Plant Peptides....Pages 438-458
Immunology....Pages 459-502
Front Matter....Pages 503-503
Seed Development....Pages 505-558
Protein and Nucleic Acid Synthesis During Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth....Pages 559-591
Leaf Senescence....Pages 592-636
Macromolecular Aspects of Cell Wall Differentiation....Pages 637-655
Back Matter....Pages 657-770
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