Fluorescent probes for exploring plant cell wall deconstruction: a review

Molecules. 2014 Jul 3;19(7):9380-402. doi: 10.3390/molecules19079380.

Abstract

Plant biomass is a potential resource of chemicals, new materials and biofuels that could reduce our dependency on fossil carbon, thus decreasing the greenhouse effect. However, due to its chemical and structural complexity, plant biomass is recalcitrant to green biological transformation by enzymes, preventing the establishment of integrated bio-refineries. In order to gain more knowledge in the architecture of plant cell wall to facilitate their deconstruction, many fluorescent probes bearing various fluorophores have been devised and used successfully to reveal the changes in structural motifs during plant biomass deconstruction, and the molecular interactions between enzymes and plant cell wall polymers. Fluorescent probes are thus relevant tools to explore plant cell wall deconstruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis
  • Cell Wall / chemistry*
  • Cell Wall / ultrastructure
  • Cellulases / chemistry
  • Conservation of Energy Resources
  • Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Lignin / chemistry
  • Plant Cells / chemistry
  • Plant Cells / ultrastructure
  • Renewable Energy
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • lignocellulose
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Lignin
  • Cellulases