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Carbohydrate metabolism in biotrophic plant pathogens
1School of Plant Biology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
Microbiological Sciences
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Fungi utilize sucrose as a primary carbon source, converting it into hexoses via invertases. These hexoses are then metabolized into hexitols and pentitols, with fructose-6-phosphate playing a key role in this fungal metabolic pathway.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Mycology
- Metabolic Pathways
Background:
- Sucrose serves as the principal in vivo carbon source for many organisms.
- Extracellular fungal invertases are crucial for initiating sucrose breakdown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the metabolic fate of sucrose in fungi.
- To identify key intermediates and end-products of fungal carbon metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of extracellular fungal invertase activity.
- Investigation of hexose uptake mechanisms, specifically proton symport.
- Metabolomic profiling to identify end-products like hexitols and pentitols.
- Tracing metabolic intermediates, focusing on fructose-6-phosphate.
Main Results:
- Extracellular fungal invertases hydrolyze sucrose into hexoses.
- Hexoses are absorbed via proton symport and rapidly converted to hexitols.
- Pentitols accumulate during further metabolism.
- Fructose-6-phosphate is identified as a central intermediate in these pathways.
Conclusions:
- Fungal metabolism efficiently processes sucrose, prioritizing hexitol and pentitol production.
- Fructose-6-phosphate is a critical node in the fungal metabolic network for carbon utilization.