Modelling fructan biosynthesis and polymer length distribution

There has been growing interest in the possible deployment of high-sugar grasses in grazed pastures. Rasmussen et al. use data obtained from perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, to construct a mathematical model for the step-by-step synthesis of fructan polymers, enabling a polymer distribution to be predicted. They show how qualitatively different distributions can be obtained and demonstrate that experimental results for polymer distribution can by simulated by simple parameter adjustments. They conclude that mathematical analysis and simulation, based on well-established biochemical kinetics and calculus, can provide a useful tool for helping elucidate the details of the biosynthetic processes.