Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Glucose Transporters01:27

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules01:10

Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules

Sugar (a simple carbohydrate) metabolism (chemical reactions) is a classic example of the many cellular processes that use and produce energy. Living things consume sugar as a major energy source because sugar molecules have considerable energy stored within their bonds. Consumed carbohydrates have their origins in photosynthesizing organisms like plants. During photosynthesis, plants use the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide gas into sugar molecules, like glucose. Because this...
Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules01:10

Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules

Sugar (a simple carbohydrate) metabolism (chemical reactions) is a classic example of the many cellular processes that use and produce energy. Living things consume sugar as a major energy source because sugar molecules have considerable energy stored within their bonds. Consumed carbohydrates have their origins in photosynthesizing organisms like plants. During photosynthesis, plants use the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide gas into sugar molecules, like glucose. Because this...
Gustation01:43

Gustation

Gustation is a chemical sense that, along with olfaction (smell), contributes to our perception of taste. It starts with the activation of receptors by chemical compounds (tastants) dissolved in the saliva. The saliva and filiform papillae on the tongue distribute the tastants and increase their exposure to the taste receptors.
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...
Phloem and Sugar Transport02:02

Phloem and Sugar Transport

Like many living organisms, plants have tissues that specialize in specific plant functions. For example, shoots are well adapted to rapid growth, while roots are structured to acquire resources efficiently. However, sugar production is primarily restricted to the photosynthetic cells that reside in the leaves of angiosperm plants. Sugar and other resources are transported from photosynthetic tissues to other specialized tissues by a process called translocation.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The plant energy management machinery: an essential hub for stress resilience and developmental dynamics with great potential for crop improvement.

Journal of experimental botany·2026
Same author

Ribosome biogenesis in plants requires the nuclear envelope and mitochondria localized OPENER complex.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Using a thermal gradient table to study plant temperature signalling and response across a temperature spectrum.

Plant methods·2024
Same author

S<sub>1</sub> basic leucine zipper transcription factors shape plant architecture by controlling C/N partitioning to apical and lateral organs.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024
Same author

Arabidopsis thaliana rosette habit is controlled by combined light and energy signaling converging on transcriptional control of the TALE homeobox gene ATH1.

The New phytologist·2023
Same author

Cauliflower mosaic virus protein P6 is a multivalent node for RNA granule proteins and interferes with stress granule responses during plant infection.

The Plant cell·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Taste-Induced Neural Responses in Adult Drosophila
06:30

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Taste-Induced Neural Responses in Adult Drosophila

Published on: March 7, 2025

Sugar perception and signaling--an update.

Johannes Hanson1, Sjef Smeekens

  • 1Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.j.hanson@uu.nl

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|September 1, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Plants utilize sugars as crucial signals, with HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1) being a key sensor. Complex sugar signaling pathways, involving KIN10/KIN11 kinases and bZIP transcription factors, regulate plant development and responses to environmental factors.

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats
08:07

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
10:57

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Published on: July 25, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Taste-Induced Neural Responses in Adult Drosophila
06:30

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Taste-Induced Neural Responses in Adult Drosophila

Published on: March 7, 2025

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats
08:07

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
10:57

RNAi-mediated Double Gene Knockdown and Gustatory Perception Measurement in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

Published on: July 25, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Plant Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Sugars are vital signaling molecules in plants, influencing physiology and development.
  • While HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1) is a known glucose sensor, other sugar sensors likely exist for metabolites like sucrose and trehalose 6-phosphate.
  • Sugar signaling is intricately linked with other plant pathways, including nutrient, hormone, and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the complexity of sugar sensing and signaling in plants.
  • To highlight the roles of specific proteins and transcription factors in mediating sugar responses.
  • To understand how sugar signaling integrates with other environmental cues.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of sugar sensors.
  • Analysis of protein kinases (KIN10, KIN11) involved in sugar and stress signaling.
  • Investigation of bZIP transcription factors in mediating sugar signaling effects.

Main Results:

  • Confirmation that sugars are potent signaling molecules in plants.
  • Identification of KIN10 and KIN11 protein kinases as central coordinators of sugar and stress responses.
  • Demonstration that bZIP transcription factors mediate sugar signaling's impact on gene expression and metabolite levels.

Conclusions:

  • Plant sugar sensing is a complex, multifaceted process involving multiple sensors and signaling pathways.
  • KIN10/KIN11 kinases and bZIP transcription factors are critical components in plant sugar signaling networks.
  • Understanding these pathways is crucial for comprehending plant adaptation to environmental conditions.