Description and functional analysis of the transcriptome from malting barley.

The present study aimed to establish an early model of the malting barley transcriptome, which describes the expression of genes and their ontologies, identify the period during malting with the largest dynamic shift in gene expression for future investigation, and to determine the expression patterns of all starch degrading enzyme genes relevant to the malting and brewing industry. Large dynamic increases in gene expression occurred early in malting with differential expressed genes enriched for cell wall and starch hydrolases amongst many malting related categories. Twenty-five of forty starch degrading enzyme genes were differentially expressed in the malting barley transcriptome including eleven α-amylase genes, six β-amylase genes, three α-glucosidase genes, and all five starch debranching enzyme genes.

Comparative gene expression analysis of the β-amylase and hordein gene families in the developing barley grain.

Expression of hordeins and β-amylase during barley grain development is important in determining malting quality parameters that are controlled by protein and malt enzyme levels. The relationship between protein and enzyme levels is confounding because, in general, protein and malt enzyme activity are positively correlated and the malting and brewing industries demand relatively low levels of protein and relatively high levels of enzymes. Separation of these traits is desirable because high protein levels are one of the primary causes of barley not meeting malt quality standards.

Metabolic changes in Avena sativa crowns recovering from freezing.

Extensive research has been conducted on cold acclimation and freezing tolerance of fall-sown cereal plants due to their economic importance; however, little has been reported on the biochemical changes occurring over time after the freezing conditions are replaced by conditions favorable for recovery and growth such as would occur during spring. In this study, GC-MS was used to detect metabolic changes in the overwintering crown tissue of oat (Avena sativa L.) during a fourteen day time-course after freezing.

Histological analysis and 3D reconstruction of winter cereal crowns recovering from freezing: a unique response in oat (Avena sativa L.).

The crown is the below ground portion of the stem of a grass which contains meristematic cells that give rise to new shoots and roots following winter. To better understand mechanisms of survival from freezing, a histological analysis was performed on rye, wheat, barley and oat plants that had been frozen, thawed and allowed to resume growth under controlled conditions. Extensive tissue disruption and abnormal cell structure was noticed in the center of the crown of all 4 species with relatively normal cells on the outside edge of the crown.

Differential expression of two β-amylase genes (Bmy1 and Bmy2) in developing and mature barley grain.

Two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) β-amylase genes (Bmy1 and Bmy2) were studied during the late maturation phase of grain development in four genotypes. The Bmy1 and Bmy2 DNA and amino acid sequences are extremely similar.

Differential RNA expression of Bmy1 during barley seed development and the association with β-amylase accumulation, activity, and total protein.

The objective of this study was to determine if developing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds had differences in β-amylase 1 (Bmy1) mRNA accumulation, β-amylase (EC 3.2.