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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #93934
Title: CELL WALL CROSS-LINKING BY FERULATES AND DEHYDRODIFERULATES IN GRASSES

Author
item Hatfield, Ronald
item Ralph, John
item GRABBER, JOHN - MONSANTO-PROTIVA

Submitted to: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/24/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ferulate polysaccharide esters in grasses enter into free-radical condensation reactions in the cell wall. By radical dimerization of ferulates, polysaccharide-polysaccharide cross-linking is effected. A range of diferulate isomers are produced, not solely the 5-5-coupled dimer which has been quantified historically. Both ferulates and diferulates enter lignification reactions and become intimately bound up with the lignin complex. Again, under-quantification is significant since it is not possible to release ferulate or diferulates from some of the structures. Overall, ferulates play a significant role in cell wall development and impact polysaccharide utilization in grasses.