Starch Synthesis in the Maize Endosperm1

This review covers starch synthesis in the maize endosperm. Starch comprises one of the major glucose polymers in many living organisms. It is critical for plant life since it provides a mechanism to store the vast amounts of fixed carbon arising from photosynthesis. As the major component of many seeds, starch provides the important source of energy transferred from parent to progeny. Animal life is also dependent on starch since animals (including humans) rely primarily on the starch-rich cereal seeds to provide essential calories and nutrients. Starch is important to agriculture since it is the major component of the maize seed. This selective review (1) provides an overview of the enzymes uniquely important in starch synthesis and the genes that control them, (2) emphasizes unresolved important questions, (3) highlights unexpected conclusions and (4) discusses derived principles that likely are applicable to other studies of important biochemical pathways.