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Sugar uptake by maize endosperm suspension cultures
1Seed Biosynthesis Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, Illinois 61604.
Plant Physiology
|December 1, 1988
Summary
Maize endosperm cultures absorb sugars like fructose and glucose via specific, energy-dependent transporters. Sucrose uptake involves both direct transport and breakdown into hexoses by invertase.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm suspension cultures serve as a model for studying endosperm development.
- Understanding sugar uptake is crucial for comprehending nutrient allocation and growth in maize.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sugar uptake mechanisms in maize endosperm suspension cultures.
- To elucidate the transporters and pathways involved in fructose, glucose, and sucrose assimilation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized (14)C-labeled sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose) to quantify uptake rates.
- Analyzed uptake kinetics, including saturable and linear components.
- Investigated the effects of metabolic inhibitors, pH, and specific transport modulators.
Main Results:
- Fructose and glucose uptake exhibited saturable, energy-dependent, proton cotransport characteristics.
- Sucrose uptake involved both a saturable carrier for intact sucrose and uptake of hexoses post-hydrolysis by cell wall invertase.
- Specific carriers for fructose and glucose were suggested by cross-inhibition studies.
Conclusions:
- Maize endosperm cultures possess distinct, active transport systems for fructose and glucose.
- Sucrose assimilation is a dual process involving direct transport and extracellular enzymatic breakdown.
- These findings provide insights into nutrient partitioning in developing maize endosperm.
