Discovery, characterisation and applications of enzymes from the wood-forming tissues of poplar: Glycosyl transferases and xyloglucan endotransglycosylases

The Populus tremula x tremuloides Mich. expressed sequence tag (EST) database provides a rich and largely unexplored source of enzymes which can be developed into tools for wood fibre engineering, either by way of post-harvest processing or by transgenic technology. Enzyme discovery through functional genomics techniques, such as cDNA microarray analysis, is spotlighting particular carbohydrate-active enzymes which play a role in cell wall growth and development in wood-forming tissues. The cloning and heterologous expression of these enzymes is facilitating their study on a fundamental level, which lays the groundwork for advanced biotechnological applications.