J. Appl. Glycosci.: Advance Publication doi:10.5458/jag.jag.JAG-2012_016 Review (Received October 24, 2012; Accepted December 3, 2012) J-STAGE Advance Published Date: January 25, 2013 Special Issue "Starch Metabolism, Structure and Properties" Review Variation of Storage Polysaccharides in Phototrophic Microorganisms Eiji Suzuki1,* and Ryuichiro Suzuki1 1Department of Biological Production, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University (Akita 010-0195, Japan) *Corresponding Author (Tel.: +81-18-872-1653, Fax: +81-18-872-1681, E-mail:
[email protected]) List of Abbreviations: AGPase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase; DP, degree of polymerization; FACE, fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis; GBSS, granule-bound starch synthase; ISA, isoamylase; SS, starch synthase Running Title: Starch in Various Phototrophic Organisms J. Appl. Glycosci.: Advance Publication Abstract Phototrophic eukaryotes were established by the engulfment of oxygenic phototrophic prokaryotes (cyanobacteria) by a heterotrophic host. This process, called primary endosymbiosis, gave rise to the taxon Archaeplastida, which comprises green plants, rhodophytes, and glaucophytes. Further rounds of endosymbiotic events produced a variety of phototrophic organisms, which could accumulate -1,4-/-1,6-glucans (including starch) or -1,3-/-1,6-glucans. In this article, we review the recent progress in the study of the intracellular localization and molecular forms of storage glucan, especially starch, among the known phototrophs and related organisms.