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Trehalose 6-phosphate: A master regulator of plant development
Malleshaiah SharathKumar1, Vasiliki Zacharaki2, Sarah Muniz Nardeli3
1Department of Metabolic Networks, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, Potsdam 14476, Germany; Department of Plant Sciences, Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen 6700, AA, The Netherlands.
Trends in Plant Science
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is a sugar phosphate vital for plant development, acting as a signaling molecule that coordinates sugar status with growth. This pathway regulates critical transitions like embryogenesis and flowering, integrating various signals for precise control.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Signaling
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) is a crucial intermediate in trehalose synthesis and functions as a key signaling molecule in plants.
- It plays a significant role in coordinating sucrose metabolism with plant growth and development.
- The T6P pathway integrates environmental and endogenous signals to regulate various developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide recent insights into the T6P pathway's functions in plant development.
- To highlight the role of T6P in orchestrating diverse developmental programs across plant species.
- To discuss emerging mechanistic insights into the T6P pathway's functions.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on the T6P pathway.
- Analysis of gene expression patterns related to T6P metabolism.
- Comparative studies across model and crop species.
Main Results:
- T6P coordinates sucrose status with plant growth and development.
- The T6P pathway regulates key developmental transitions such as embryogenesis, seed maturation, shoot branching, and phase transitions.
- Dynamic spatiotemporal expression of T6P-pathway genes correlates with developmental stages.
Conclusions:
- The T6P pathway is essential for integrating metabolic status with developmental cues.
- It plays a central role in regulating diverse plant developmental programs.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanistic functions of the T6P pathway.
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