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Sucrose transporters in plants: update on function and structure
1Laboratoire de Biochimie et Physiologie Végétales, ESA CNRS 6161, Bâtiment Botanique, 40 Avenue du Recteur Pineau, F-86022, Poitiers, France. remi.lemoine@campus.univ-poitiers.fr
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 5, 2000
Summary
Plant sucrose transporters facilitate carbon transport, impacting plant productivity. Identified sucrose carrier cDNAs reveal conserved gene families crucial for plant growth and development.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Sucrose is the primary form of carbon transport in plants, supplying energy and building blocks to sink organs.
- Membrane transport of sucrose is a critical factor influencing overall plant productivity.
- Decades of research preceded the molecular identification of sucrose transporters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the identification and characterization of plant sucrose transporters.
- To discuss the conserved features and functional properties of these transporters.
- To relate transporter characteristics to their physiological roles in plants.
Main Methods:
- Identification of sucrose carrier cDNAs through molecular cloning.
- Yeast expression systems to study transporter function.
- Analysis of conserved protein sequences and structural motifs.
Main Results:
- Over 20 different sucrose carrier cDNAs have been identified across various plant species.
- Sucrose transporters form gene families with conserved sequences, featuring 12 transmembrane alpha-helices.
- Yeast expression confirmed them as proton-coupled influx carriers with similar sucrose affinities (0.2-2 mM).
Conclusions:
- Plant sucrose transporters exhibit conserved characteristics consistent with physiological observations.
- These transporters are crucial for efficient carbon allocation and plant productivity.
- Further research into transporter structure-function relationships is warranted.