Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biology of 1-3 Beta Glucans and Related Polysaccharides

1. Introduction and historical background
2. CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICO-CHEMISTRY
2.1 Chemistry of β-Glucans
2.2 Physico-Chemistry of (1,3)-β-Glucans
3. BIOCHEMISTRY
3.1 Plant and Microbial Enzymes Involved in the Depolymerisation of (1,3)-β-d-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides
3.2 Interactions between Proteins and (1,3)-ß-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides
3.3 BIOSYNTHETIC ENZYMES
3.3.1 Enzymology and Molecular Genetics of Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-β-Glucans - Prokaryotes
3.3.2 Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-β-Glucans and (1,3;1,6) -β-Glucans in Protozoans and Chromistans: Biochemical Characterization and Molecular Biology
3.3.3 Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-β-Glucans and (1,3;1,6) -β-Glucans from Yeasts: Biochemical Properties and Molecular Biology
3.3.4 Biochemical and Molecular Properties of Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-β-Glucans in Embryophytes, Chlorophytes and Rhodophytes
4. BIOLOGY
4.1 Functional Roles of (1,3)-β-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides: Prokaryotes
4.2 Biology of (1,3)-β-Glucans and Related Glucans in Protozoans and Chromistans
4.3 Organization of Fungal, Oomycete and Lichen (1,3)-β-Glucans
4.4 RHODOPHYTES, CHLOROPHYTES AND EMBRYOPHYTES
4.4.1 Callose in Cell Division
4.4.2 Cytology of the (1-3)-β-Glucan (Callose) in Plasmodesmata and Sieve Plate Pores
4.4.3 Callose and Its Role in Pollen and Embryo-Sac Development in Flowering Plants
4.4.4 Callose in Abiotic Stress
4.4.5 Callose in Biotic Stress (Pathogenesis) Biology, biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Callose in Plant Defence: Callose Deoposition and turnover in plant--Pathogen Interactions
4.5 (1->3)-β-GLUCANS IN INNATE IMMUNITY
4.5.1 Biological and Immunological Aspects of Innate Defence Mechanisms Activated by (1,3)-β-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides in Invertebrates

4.5.2 (1,3)-β-Glucans in Innate Immunity: Mammalian Systems

4.6 Distrubution, Fine Structure and Function of (1->3;1->4)-β-Glucans in the Grasses and Other Taxa
4.7 Evolutionary Aspects of (1,3)-ß-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides

Bibliography
Indexes
Subject index
Species index
Web resources