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 ß-Glucans 2.2 Physico-Chemistry of (1,3)-ß-Glucans 3. BIOCHEMISTRY 3.1 Plant and Microbial Enzymes Involved in the Depolymerisation of (1,3)-ß-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)-ß-Glucans - Prokaryotes 3.3.2 Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-ß-Glucans and (1,3;1,6) -ß-Glucans in Protozoans and Chromistans: Biochemical Characterization and Molecular Biology 3.3.3 Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-ß-Glucans and (1,3;1,6) -ß-Glucans from Yeasts: Biochemical Properties and Molecular Biology 3.3.4 Biochemical and Molecular Properties of Biosynthetic Enzymes for (1,3)-ß-Glucans in Embryophytes, Chlorophytes and Rhodophytes 4. BIOLOGY 4.1 Functional Roles of (1,3)-ß-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides: Prokaryotes 4.2 Biology of (1,3)-ß-Glucans and Related Glucans in Protozoans and Chromistans 4.3 Organization of Fungal, Oomycete and Lichen (1,3)-ß-Glucans 4.4 RHODOPHYTES, CHLOROPHYTES AND EMBRYOPHYTES 4.4.1 Callose in Cell Division 4.4.2 Cytology of the (1-3)-ß-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)-ß-GLUCANS IN INNATE IMMUNITY 4.5.1 Biological and Immunological Aspects of Innate Defence Mechanisms Activated by (1,3)-ß-Glucans and Related Polysaccharides in Invertebrates

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

4.6 Distrubution, Fine Structure and Function of (1->3;1->4)-ß-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

• Topics of medical relevance include detailing the glucans' interactions with the immune system and research for cancer therapy applications
• Web resource links allow scientists to explore additional beta glucan research
• Separate indexes divided into Species and Subject for enhanced searchability