9722509 Mohnen This Americas Program award will support a collaborative research project between Dr. Debra Mohnen, University of Georgia, and Dr. Ariel Orellana, Universidad de Chile, to study pectin biosynthesis in plants. Pectin is a polysaccharide of plant primary wall that plays critical roles in plant growth and development. A full understanding of these roles requires elucidation of the mechanisms that regulate its biosynthesis. The goal of the proposal is to determine the topology of the pectin biosynthetic enzyme, with the long term goal of elucidating, on a molecular level, how pectin is synthesized. In this study, the researchers will try to identify enzymatic activity, determine the topography of the enzyme, and solubilize and purify enzymes. The increased understanding of their biochemistry, gained during the identification and purification process, will be important for building accurate models of biosynthesis of pectin. The proposed collaboration brings together two complementary groups required to achieve the project's objectives. The US scientist's expertise in biosynthesis of pectin complements Dr. Orellana's experience in nucleotide sugar-transport and topography of membrane proteins. In addition to its importance to plants, pectin is an important food fiber that contributes to the roughage of fruits and vegetables, and is an economically important gelling and stabilizing agent in foods. ***
