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Published on: September 10, 2020
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Transport of sugars
Li-Qing Chen1, Lily S Cheung, Liang Feng
1Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California 94305;
Annual Review of Biochemistry
|March 10, 2015
Summary
Soluble sugars are vital for multicellular life, acting as energy sources and signals. This review details the critical role of sugar transporters (GLUTs, SGLTs, SWEETs) in health and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Soluble sugars are essential molecules in multicellular organisms, serving roles in energy storage, signaling, and transport.
- Photosynthetic organisms, primarily plants, are the main source of sugars.
- Cellular sugar exchange necessitates specific transport proteins, highlighting the importance of sugar transport across all kingdoms of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of eukaryotic sugar transporters, including glucose transporters (GLUTs), sodium-glucose symporters (SGLTs), and SWEETs.
- To cover the historical development and current state of research in sugar transporter genetics, biochemistry, and physiology.
- To discuss the physiological and therapeutic significance of sugar transport in humans and plants.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of sugar transporters.
- Analysis of identified eukaryotic sugar transporter classes (GLUTs, SGLTs, SWEETs).
- Synthesis of information on transporter identification, characterization, structure, function, and physiological roles.
Main Results:
- Three main classes of eukaryotic sugar transporters (GLUTs, SGLTs, SWEETs) have been identified and characterized.
- Research encompasses their genetic basis, biochemical mechanisms, and physiological functions.
- Sugar transport is crucial for cellular homeostasis in animals and plants.
Conclusions:
- Understanding sugar transporters is vital for human health, with implications for diseases like diabetes and cancer.
- In plants, sugar transporters are critical for crop yield and defense against pathogens.
- This review consolidates current knowledge on sugar transporters, paving the way for future research and applications.
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