New plant biochemical pathway discovered

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., March 12 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have discovered a new biochemical pathway in plants that might lead to engineered plants designed to yield large quantities of biofuels.

Purdue University researchers said the pathway moves materials that determine cell shape and size through a system of signaling proteins. Purdue plant geneticist Dan Szymanski said by learning more about the growth and development process, it might be possible to engineer plants that are more easily fermented in the biofuel process.

"We expect that cell wall material will be a major source of biomass from plants designated for biofuel production," Szymanski said. "We need to learn more about how plant cells control the quality and amount of cell wall material."

He and his research team investigated plant growth and cell wall development in determining the cascade of events that lead to changes in the cell wall. They discovered that a protein called "SPIKE1" directs the protein signaling pathway.

The research is reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.