Regulation of sugar, amino acid and peptide plant membrane transporters

Biotization of in vitro oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and its plant-microbe interactions

Continuous discovery of novel in vitro plant culture practices is always essential to promote better plant growth in the shortest possible cultivation period. An alternative approach to conventional micropropagation practice could be achieved through biotization by inoculating selected Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) into the plant tissue culture materials (e.g., callus, embryogenic callus, and plantlets). Such biotization process often allows the selected PGPR to form a sustaining population with various stages of in vitro plant tissues. During the biotization process, plant tissue culture material imposes developmental and metabolic changes and enhances its tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, thereby reducing mortality in the acclimatization and pre-nursery stages. Understanding the mechanisms is, therefore crucial for gaining insights into in vitro plant-microbe interactions. Studies of biochemical activities and compound identifications are always essential to evaluate in vitro plant-microbe interactions. Given the importance of biotization in promoting in vitro plant material growth, this review aims to provide a brief overview of the in vitro oil palm plant-microbe symbiosis system.

Identification of a new mutant allele of ZmYSL2 that regulates kernel development and nutritional quality in maize

The discovery and characterization of the opaque endosperm gene provide ideas and resources for the production and application of maize. We found an o213 mutant whose phenotype was opaque and shrunken endosperm with semi-dwarf plant height. The protein, lipid, and starch contents in the o213 endosperm were significantly decreased, while the free amino acid content in the o213 endosperm significantly increased. The aspartic acid, asparagine, and lysine contents were raised in the o213 endosperm by 6.5-, 8.5-, and 1.7-fold, respectively. Genetic analysis showed that this o213 mutant is a recessive single-gene mutation. The position mapping indicated that o213 is located in a 468-kb region that contains 11 protein-encoding genes on the long arm of chromosome 5. The coding sequence analysis of candidate genes between the WT and o213 showed that ZmYSL2 had only a single-base substitution (A-G) in the fifth exon, which caused methionine substitution to valine. Sequence analysis and the allelic test showed that o213 is a new mutant allele of ZmYSL2. The qRT-PCR results indicated that o213 is highly expressed in the stalks and anthers. Subcellular localization studies showed that o213 is a membrane transporter. In the variation analysis of o213, the amplification of 65 inbred lines in GWAS showed that this 3-bp deletion of the first exon of o213 was found only in temperate inbred lines, implying that the gene was artificially affected in the selection process. Our results suggest that o213 is an important endosperm development gene and may serve as a genetic resource.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-022-01278-9.

Amino Acid Transporters in Plants: Identification and Function

Amino acid transporters are the main mediators of nitrogen distribution throughout the plant body, and are essential for sustaining growth and development. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on the identity and biological functions of amino acid transporters in plants, and discuss the regulation of amino acid transporters in response to environmental stimuli. We focus on transporter function in amino acid assimilation and phloem loading and unloading, as well as on the molecular identity of amino acid exporters. Moreover, we discuss the effects of amino acid transport on carbon assimilation, as well as their cross-regulation, which is at the heart of sustainable agricultural production.

Biochemical events during somatic embryogenesis in Coffea arabica L

Several biochemical components associated with different stages of somatic embryogenesis in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) are investigated using foliar explants. Soluble sugar, starch, free amino acids and total proteins were extracted and quantified at different stages of somatic embryogenesis, such as foliar segments (initial explants), primary calluses, embryogenic calluses, globular embryos, torpedoes, cotyledonary embryos and mature fruit zygotic embryos. Total soluble sugar levels increased sixfold at the initial stages of somatic embryogenesis induction. During this period, total soluble sugar in the cultures contained approximately 99.3% glucose and fructose. At 67.4 μg/mg MS, no significant changes were observed in total sugar content during the embryo's somatic maturation and regeneration. During this stage, total soluble sugar was composed of 60% sucrose. After primary callus formation, starch contents increased gradually until the culture's conclusion. Total free amino acids, particularly arginine, lysine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine and histidine, revealed a higher synthesis until the formation of the primary callus, after which they remain statistically constant up to the end of the process. During the induction of calluses, a gradual increase of total proteins occurred, which, in the differentiating and maturing of somatic embryos, did not differ statistically till the formation of a cotyledonary embryo, when rates decreased 21.8%.

Genotype-dependent regulation of drought-responsive genes in tolerant and sensitive sugarcane cultivars

Drought is the most damaging among the major abiotic stresses. Transcriptomic studies allow a global overview of expressed genes, providing the basis for molecular markers development. Here, the HT-SuperSAGE technique allowed the evaluation of four drought-tolerant cultivars and four-sensitive cultivars, after 24h of irrigation suppression. We identified 9831 induced unitags from roots of the tolerant cultivars with different regulations by the -sensitive cultivars after the applied stress. These unitags allowed a proposal of 15 genes, whose expressed profiles were validated by RT-qPCR, evaluating each cultivar independently. These genes covered broad metabolic processes: ethylene stress attenuation (ACCD); root growth (β-EXP8); protein degradation [ubiquitination pathway (E2, 20SPβ4); plant proteases (AP, C13)]; oxidative detoxification (TRX); fatty acid synthesis (ACC); amino acid transport (AAT), and carbohydrate metabolism [glycolysis (PFK, TPI, FBA); TCA cycle (LDP, MDH); pentose phosphate pathway (TKT)]. The expressed profiles showed a genotype-dependent regulation of the target genes. Two drought-tolerant cultivars (SP83-2847; CTC6) presented each one, nine of the induced genes. Among the -sensitive cultivars, CTC13 induced only one, while SP90-1636 induced two genes. These genes should help breeders to identify accessions managing drought stress tolerance responses, showing better ethylene stress attenuation, energy allocation, amino acid transport, and protein homeostasis.

Nitrogen remobilisation facilitates adventitious root formation on reversible dark-induced carbohydrate depletion in Petunia hybrida

BACKGROUND

Adventitious root (AR) formation in axillary shoot tip cuttings is a crucial physiological process for ornamental propagation that is utilised in global production chains for young plants. In this process, the nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolisms of a cutting are regulated by its total nitrogen content (N_t), dark exposure during transport and irradiance levels at distinct production sites and phases through a specific plasticity to readjust metabolite pools. Here, we examined how elevated N_t contents with a combined dark exposure of cuttings influence their internal N-pools including free amino acids and considered early anatomic events of AR formation as well as further root development in Petunia hybrida cuttings.

RESULTS

Enhanced N_t contents of unrooted cuttings resulted in elevated total free amino acid levels and in particular glutamate (glu) and glutamine (gln) in leaf and basal stem. N-allocation to mobile N-pools increased whereas the allocation to insoluble protein-N declined. A dark exposure of cuttings conserved initial N_t and nitrate-N, while it reduced insoluble protein-N and increased soluble protein, amino- and amide-N. The increase of amino acids mainly comprised asparagine (asn), aspartate (asp) and arginine (arg) in the leaves, with distinct tissue specific responses to an elevated N supply. Dark exposure induced an early transient rise of asp followed by a temporary increase of glu. A strong positive N effect of high N_t contents of cuttings on AR formation after 384 h was observed. Root meristematic cells developed at 72 h with a negligible difference for two N_t levels. After 168 h, an enhanced N_t accelerated AR formation and gave rise to first obvious fully developed roots while only meristems were formed with a low N_t. However, dark exposure for 168 h promoted AR formation particularly in cuttings with a low N_t to such an extent so that the benefit of the enhanced N_t was almost compensated. Combined dark exposure and low N_t of cuttings strongly reduced shoot growth during AR formation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that both enhanced N_t content and dark exposure of cuttings reinforced N signals and mobile N resources in the stem base facilitated by senescence-related proteolysis in leaves. Based on our results, a model of N mobilisation concomitant with carbohydrate depletion and its significance for AR formation is postulated.

Genome-Wide Function, Evolutionary Characterization and Expression Analysis of Sugar Transporter Family Genes in Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd)

The sugar transporter (ST) plays an important role in plant growth, development and fruit quality. In this study, a total of 75 ST genes were identified in the pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) genome based on systematic analysis. Furthermore, all ST genes identified were grouped into eight subfamilies according to conserved domains and phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of cis-regulatory element sequences of all ST genes identified the MYBCOREATCYCB1 promoter in sucrose transporter (SUT) and monosaccharide transporter (MST) genes of pear, while in grape it is exclusively found in SUT subfamily members, indicating divergent transcriptional regulation in different species. Gene duplication event analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication play key roles in ST gene amplification, followed by tandem duplication. Estimation of positive selection at codon sites of ST paralog pairs indicated that all plastidic glucose translocator (pGlcT) subfamily members have evolved under positive selection. In addition, the evolutionary history of ST gene duplications indicated that the ST genes have experienced significant expansion in the whole ST gene family after the second WGD, especially after apple and pear divergence. According to the global RNA sequencing results of pear fruit development, gene expression profiling showed the expression of 53 STs. Combined with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, two polyol/monosaccharide transporter (PLT) and three tonoplast monosaccharide transporter (tMT) members were identified as candidate genes, which may play important roles in sugar accumulation during pear fruit development and ripening. Identification of highly expressed STs in fruit is important for finding novel genes contributing to enhanced levels of sugar content in pear fruit.

Thermotolerance responses in ripening berries of Vitis vinifera L. cv Muscat Hamburg

Berry organoleptic properties are highly influenced by ripening environmental conditions. In this study, we used grapevine fruiting cuttings to follow berry ripening under different controlled conditions of temperature and irradiation intensity. Berries ripened at higher temperatures showed reduced anthocyanin accumulation and hastened ripening, leading to a characteristic drop in malic acid and total acidity. The GrapeGen GeneChip® combined with a newly developed GrapeGen 12Xv1 MapMan version were utilized for the functional analysis of berry transcriptomic differences after 2 week treatments from veraison onset. These analyses revealed the establishment of a thermotolerance response in berries under high temperatures marked by the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) chaperones and the repression of transmembrane transporter-encoding transcripts. The thermotolerance response was coincident with up-regulation of ERF subfamily transcription factors and increased ABA levels, suggesting their participation in the maintenance of the acclimation response. Lower expression of amino acid transporter-encoding transcripts at high temperature correlated with balanced amino acid content, suggesting a transcriptional compensation of temperature effects on protein and membrane stability to allow for completion of berry ripening. In contrast, the lower accumulation of anthocyanins and higher malate metabolization measured under high temperature might partly result from imbalance in the expression and function of their specific transmembrane transporters and expression changes in genes involved in their metabolic pathways. These results open up new views to improve our understanding of berry ripening under high temperatures.

Differential regulation of two sucrose transporters by defoliation and light conditions in perennial ryegrass

Sucrose transport between source and sink tissues is supposed to be a key-step for an efficient regrowth of perennial rye-grass after defoliation and might be altered by light conditions. We assessed the effect of different light regimes (high vs low light applied before or after defoliation) on growth, fructans and sucrose mobilization, as well as on sucrose transporter expression during 14 days of regrowth. Our results reported that defoliation led to a mobilization of C reserves (first sucrose and then fructans), which was parallel to an induction of LpSUT1 sucrose transporter expression in source and sink tissues (i.e. leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases, respectively) irrespective to light conditions. Light regime (high or low light) had little effects on regrowth and on C reserves mobilization during the first 48 h of regrowth after defoliation. Thereafter, low light conditions, delaying the recovery of photosynthetic capacities, had a negative effect on C reserves re-accumulation (especially sucrose). Surprisingly, high light did not enhance sucrose transporter expression. Indeed, while light conditions had no effect on LpSUT1 expression, LpSUT2 transcripts levels were enhanced for low light grown plants. These results indicate that two sucrose transporter currently identified in Lolium perenne L. are differentially regulated by light and sucrose.

Transporters for amino acids in plant cells: some functions and many unknowns

Membrane proteins are essential to move amino acids in or out of plant cells as well as between organelles. While many putative amino acid transporters have been identified, function in nitrogen movement in plants has only been shown for a few proteins. Those studies demonstrate that import systems are fundamental in partitioning of amino acids at cellular and whole plant level. Physiological data further suggest that amino acid transporters are key-regulators in plant metabolism and that their activities affect growth and development. By contrast, knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of cellular export processes as well as on intracellular transport of amino acids is scarce. Similarly, little is known about the regulation of amino acid transporter function and involvement of the transporters in amino acid signaling. Future studies need to identify the missing components to elucidate the importance of amino acid transport processes for whole plant physiology and productivity.

The Vitis vinifera sugar transporter gene family: phylogenetic overview and macroarray expression profiling

BACKGROUND

In higher plants, sugars are not only nutrients but also important signal molecules. They are distributed through the plant via sugar transporters, which are involved not only in sugar long-distance transport via the loading and the unloading of the conducting complex, but also in sugar allocation into source and sink cells. The availability of the recently released grapevine genome sequence offers the opportunity to identify sucrose and monosaccharide transporter gene families in a woody species and to compare them with those of the herbaceous Arabidopsis thaliana using a phylogenetic analysis.

RESULTS

In grapevine, one of the most economically important fruit crop in the world, it appeared that sucrose and monosaccharide transporter genes are present in 4 and 59 loci, respectively and that the monosaccharide transporter family can be divided into 7 subfamilies. Phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences has indicated that orthologs exist between Vitis and Arabidospis. A search for cis-regulatory elements in the promoter sequences of the most characterized transporter gene families (sucrose, hexoses and polyols transporters), has revealed that some of them might probably be regulated by sugars. To profile several genes simultaneously, we created a macroarray bearing cDNA fragments specific to 20 sugar transporter genes. This macroarray analysis has revealed that two hexose (VvHT1, VvHT3), one polyol (VvPMT5) and one sucrose (VvSUC27) transporter genes, are highly expressed in most vegetative organs. The expression of one hexose transporter (VvHT2) and two tonoplastic monosaccharide transporter (VvTMT1, VvTMT2) genes are regulated during berry development. Finally, three putative hexose transporter genes show a preferential organ specificity being highly expressed in seeds (VvHT3, VvHT5), in roots (VvHT2) or in mature leaves (VvHT5).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an exhaustive survey of sugar transporter genes in Vitis vinifera and revealed that sugar transporter gene families in this woody plant are strongly comparable to those of herbaceous species. Dedicated macroarrays have provided a Vitis sugar transporter genes expression profiling, which will likely contribute to understand their physiological functions in plant and berry development. The present results might also have a significant impact on our knowledge on plant sugar transporters.

OeMST2 encodes a monosaccharide transporter expressed throughout olive fruit maturation

In olive fruits, sugars are the main soluble components providing energy and acting as precursors for olive oil biosynthesis. Large quantities of glucose, fructose and galactose are often found in olive pulp. To analyze sugar transport processes in Olea europaea, a cDNA encoding a monosaccharide transporter, designated OeMST2 (Olea europaea monosaccharide transporter 2) was cloned. An open reading frame of 1,569 bp codes for a protein of 523 amino acids and a calculated molecular weight of 57.6 kDa. The protein is homologous to other sugar transporters identified so far in higher plants. Expression of this cDNA in an hxt-null Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain deficient in glucose transport restored its capacity to grow on and to transport glucose. The encoded protein showed high affinity for D-glucose (K(m), 25 microM) and was also able to recognize D-galactose and the analogs 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose, but not D-fructose, D-arabinose, sucrose or D-mannitol. Maximal transport activity was high at acidic pH (5.0), and the initial D-[(14)C]glucose uptake rates were strongly inhibited by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, confirming that OeMST2 is a H(+)/monosaccharide transporter. The expression of OeMST2 was studied during the ripening process. Transcript levels increased during fruit maturation, suggesting that OeMST2 takes part in the massive accumulation of monosaccharides in olive fruits. Monosaccharide:H(+) transport system activity and OeMST2 expression were negatively regulated by glucose in suspension-cultured cells. Glucose-mediated OeMST2 repression was impaired by mannoheptulose, suggesting the involvement of a hexokinase-dependent signaling pathway.

Disruption of AtOCT1, an organic cation transporter gene, affects root development and carnitine-related responses in Arabidopsis

In animals, organic cation/carnitine transporters (OCTs) are involved in homeostasis and distribution of various small endogenous amines (e.g. carnitine, choline) and detoxification of xenobiotics such as nicotine. Here, we describe the characterization of AtOCT1, an Arabidopsis protein that shares most of the conserved features of mammalian plasma membrane OCTs. Transient expression of an AtOCT1::GFP fusion protein in onion epidermal cells and Arabidopsis protoplasts supported localization in the plasmalemma. AtOCT1 functionally complemented the Deltacit2/Deltaagp2p yeast strain that is defective in plasma membrane carnitine transport. Disruption of AtOCT1 in an Arabidopsis oct1-1 knockout mutant affected both the expression of carnitine-related genes and the developmental defects induced by exogenous carnitine. RT-PCR and promoter-uidA fusion analysis showed that AtOCT1 was expressed in vascular tissues of various organs and at sites of lateral root formation. Correlating with this expression pattern, oct1-1 seedlings grown in vitro exhibited a higher degree of root branching than the wild-type, showing that the disruption of AtOCT1 affected root development under certain conditions.

ci21A/Asr1 expression influences glucose accumulation in potato tubers

Asr genes are exclusively found in the genomes of higher plants. In many species, this gene family is expressed under abiotic stress conditions and during fruit ripening. The encoded proteins have nuclear localisation and consequently a transcription factor function has been suggested. Interestingly, yeast-one-hybrid experiments revealed that a grape ASR binds to the promoter of a hexose transporter gene (VvHT1). However, the role of these proteins in planta is still elusive. By using a reverse genetics approach in potato we found that modification of Asr1 expression has no incidence on the aerial phenotype of the plant but exerts a dramatic effect in tuber. Asr1 antisense potatoes displayed decreased tuber fresh weight whereas Asr1 overexpressors had a diminished number of tubers. Moreover, overexpression lines showed lower transcript levels of a plasma membrane hexose transporter and a concomitant decrease in glucose content in parenchyma cells of potato tubers. On the same hand glucose uptake rate was also reduced in one of the overexpressing lines. It thus seems likely that Asr1 is involved in the control of hexose uptake in heterotrophic organs. In addition, the transgenic plants were characterized by several other changes in steady state metabolite levels. Results presented here support a role for ci21A/Asr1 in glucose metabolism of potato tuber.

The Preparation of Solid-Supported Peptide Boronic Acids Derived from 4-Borono-L-phenylalanine and their Affinity for Alizarin

A library of solid-supported pentapeptide diboronic acids, a ‘lysine series’ and an ‘arginine series’, has been efficiently prepared using N-Fmoc-4-pinacolatoborono-l-phenylalanine and standard solid phase peptide synthesis methods. A technique for measuring the affinity of the chromophoric diol, alizarin, to the solid-supported peptide boronic acids has been developed. Considerable variation in alizarin binding strengths, both within and between arginine and lysine series was observed, with association constants in the range 200–1100 M–1 being recorded. The selective binding characteristics of these boronic acid–peptide hybrids suggest their potential use in carbohydrate sensors and cell-specific diagnostics and therapeutics.

Pathways of glucose regulation of monosaccharide transport in grape cells

Grape (Vitis vinifera) heterotrophic suspension-cultured cells were used as a model system to study glucose (Glc) transport and its regulation. Cells transported D-[14C]Glc according to simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics superimposed on first-order kinetics. The saturating component is a high-affinity, broad-specificity H+ -dependent transport system (Km = 0.05 mm). Glc concentration in the medium tightly regulated the transcription of VvHT1 (Vitis vinifera hexose transporter 1), a monosaccharide transporter previously characterized in grape berry, as well as VvHT1 protein amount and monosaccharide transport activity. All the remaining putative monosaccharide transporters identified so far in grape were poorly expressed and responded weakly to Glc. VvHT1 transcription was strongly repressed by Glc and 2-deoxy-D-Glc, but not by 3-O-methyl-D-Glc or Glc plus mannoheptulose, indicating the involvement of a hexokinase-dependent repression. 3-O-Methyl-D-Glc, which cannot be phosphorylated, and Glc plus mannoheptulose induced a decrease of transport activity caused by the reduction of VvHT1 protein in the plasma membrane without affecting VvHT1 transcript levels. This demonstrates hexokinase-independent posttranscriptional regulation. High Glc down-regulated VvHT1 transcription and Glc uptake, whereas low Glc increased those parameters. Present data provide an example showing control of plant sugar transporters by their own substrate both at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. VvHT1 protein has an important role in the massive import of monosaccharides into mesocarp cells of young grape berries because it was localized in plasma membranes of the early developing fruit. Protein amount decreased abruptly throughout fruit development as sugar content increases, consistent with the regulating role of Glc on VvHT1 expression found in suspension-cultured cells.

The non-host pathogen Botrytis cinerea enhances glucose transport in Pinus pinaster suspension-cultured cells

Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould disease and a non-host necrotrophic pathogen of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). Recent evidence suggests that pathogen challenge can alter carbon uptake in plant cells; however, little is known on how elicitor-derived signalling pathways control sugar transport activity. P. pinaster suspended cells are able to absorb D-[14C]glucose with high affinity, have an H+-dependent transport system (Km, 0.07 mM; Vmax, 1.5 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) DW), are specific for D-glucose, D-fructose, D-galactose and D-xylose, and are subject to glucose repression. When elicited by B. cinera spores, suspended cells exhibit calcium-dependent biphasic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the second burst also being dependent on NADPH oxidase, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and de novo transcription and protein synthesis. Challenging suspended cells incubated in sugar-free medium resulted in an up to 3-fold increase in glucose transport capacity over non-elicited cultures 24 h after elicitation, and a 14-fold increase over elicited cells incubated with 2% glucose. Enhanced glucose uptake depended on NADPH oxidase and calcium influx, but not MAPK. In contrast, the increase of glucose transport activity induced by sugar starvation was dependent on the activation of MAPK but not NADPH oxidase. Both responses appeared to be dependent on de novo transcription and protein synthesis.

Isolation and transcription profiling of low-O2 stress-associated cDNA clones from the flooding-stress-tolerant FR13A rice genotype

BACKGROUND

and Aims Flooding stress leads to a significant reduction in transcription and translation of genes involved in basal metabolism of plants. However, specific genes are noted to be up-regulated in this response. With the aim of isolating genes that might be specifically involved in flooding stress-tolerance mechanism(s), two subtractive cDNA libraries for the flooding-stress-tolerant rice genotype FR13A have been constructed, namely the single and double subtraction libraries (SSL and DSL, respectively).

METHODS

To construct the SSL, mRNAs present in the unstressed control FR13A roots were subtracted from the mRNA pool present in low O2-stressed roots of FR13A rice seedlings. The DSL was constructed from mRNAs isolated from the roots of low O2-stressed FR13A rice seedlings from which pools of low-O2-stress up-regulated mRNAs from Pusa Basmati 1 and constitutively expressed mRNAs from FR13A roots were subtracted.

RESULTS

In all, 400 and 606 cDNA clones were obtained from the SSL and DSL, respectively. Global transcript profiling by reverse northern analysis revealed that a large number of clones from these libraries were up-regulated by anaerobic stress. Importantly, selective up-regulated clones showed characteristic cultivar- and tissue-specific expression profiles. Sequencing and annotation of the up-regulated clones revealed that specific signal proteins, hexose transporters, ion channel transporters, RNA-binding proteins and transcription factor proteins possibly play important roles in the response of rice to flooding stress. Also a significant number of novel cDNA clones was noted in these libraries.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that cellular functions such as signalling, sugar and ion transport and transcript stability play an important role in conferring higher flooding tolerance in the FR13A rice type.

Temporal and spatial expression of hexose transporters in developing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit

Correlative physiological evidence suggests that membrane transport into storage parenchyma cells is a key step in determining hexose levels accumulated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit (Ruan et al. 1997). Expression of three previously identified hexose transporter genes (LeHT1, 2 and 3) demonstrated that LeHT3, and to a lesser extent LeHT1, are the predominant transporters expressed in young fruit (10 d after anthesis; DAA). Expression of both transporters dropped sharply until 24 DAA, after which only LeHT3 expression remained at detectable levels through to fruit ripening. LeHT2 was not expressed substantially until the onset of fruit ripening. For fruit at both 10 and 30 DAA, LeHT3 transcripts were detected in storage parenchyma cells of the outer pericarp tissue, but not in vascular bundles or the first layer of parenchyma cells surrounding these bundles. In contrast to LeHT gene expression, hexose transporter protein levels were maximal between 20 and 30 DAA, which corresponded to the period of highest hexose accumulation. The delayed appearance of transporter protein is consistent with some form of post-transcriptional regulation. Based on these analyses, LeHT3 appears to be responsible for the rapid hexose accumulation in developing tomato fruit.

A role for phosphorylation in the regulation of the barley scutellar peptide transporter HvPTR1 by amino acids

Protein reserves in the cereal endosperm are sequentially degraded to small peptides and amino acids during germination and these are translocated across the scutellum to support growth of the embryo. Peptide transport in the germinating barley grain is mediated by specific carriers localized to the plasma membrane of the scutellar epithelium. In isolated barley embryos peptide transport is rapidly inhibited by amino acid concentrations comparable with those found in the post-germination barley grain. However, this inhibition of HvPTR1 activity is not effected at either the transcriptional or translational level. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid repressed transport of Ala-[14C]Phe, but not [14C]Ala, into the barley scutellar epithelium. In vivo [32P]orthophosphate labelling studies of barley scutellar tissue in combination with immunoprecipitation studies using antiserum raised to HvPTR1 showed that HvPTR1 (66 kDa) is phosphorylated in the presence of amino acids. Immunopurified HvPTR1 was further demonstrated to be phosphorylated on serine residues. Digestion with the N-glycosidase enzyme PNGase F results in a shift in the molecular mass of the protein by 10 kDa, indicating that HvPTR1 is an N-linked glycoprotein. These results provide strong circumstantial evidence that HvPTR1 peptide transport activity in the germinating barley grain is regulated at the post-translational level by phosphorylation in response to rising levels of amino acids emanating from the endosperm as a result of storage protein breakdown and mobilization. This is potentially an important element in balancing the flux of organic nitrogen and carbon from the endosperm to embryo during germination and seedling establishment.

Selective expression of a novel high-affinity transport system for acidic and neutral amino acids in the tapetum cells of Arabidopsis flowers

Within the flower, microsporogenesis represents a major sink for nitrogen, but knowledge on how the imported nitrogen is transferred from the anther cell layers to developing pollen is lacking. Here, we provide information on characterization of a transporter (AtLHT2) that might play an important role in partitioning of amino acids for microspore development. Biochemical analysis in yeast showed that AtLHT2 transports proline and aspartate with high affinity. However, other neutral and acidic amino acids act as strong competitors for proline and aspartate uptake indicating that AtLHT2 generally transports uncharged and negatively charged amino acids. Comparison of the apparent K(m) values of AtLHT2 with previously characterized amino acid transporters clearly demonstrated that AtLHT2 represents a novel high-affinity system for neutral and acidic amino acids. Northern blot analysis showed strong expression of the amino acid transporter in flower buds. Cellular expression could be resolved by using RNA in situ hybridization and in situ RT-PCR methods, which localized AtLHT2 specifically to the tapetum tissue of the anthers. Developing pollen grains are symplasmically isolated from the sporophytic tissue and rely on the nutrients and other compounds secreted from the tapetum cells. Thus, the functional characterization of AtLHT2, together with our expression and localization studies, strongly suggest that in Arabidopsis flowers, AtLHT2 has a critical function in import of neutral and acidic amino acids into the tapetum cells for synthesis of compounds important for microspore structure and in transfer of organic nitrogen to the locule for pollen development.

PvUPS1, an allantoin transporter in nodulated roots of French bean

Nodulated legumes receive their nitrogen via nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, which exist in a symbiotic relationship with the root system. In tropical legumes like French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) or soybean (Glycine max), most of the fixed nitrogen is used for synthesis of the ureides allantoin and allantoic acid, the major long-distance transport forms of organic nitrogen in these species. The purpose of this investigation was to identify a ureide transporter that would allow us to further characterize the mechanisms regulating ureide partitioning in legume roots. A putative allantoin transporter (PvUPS1) was isolated from nodulated roots of French bean and was functionally characterized in an allantoin transport-deficient yeast mutant showing that PvUPS1 transports allantoin but also binds its precursors xanthine and uric acid. In beans, PvUPS1 was expressed throughout the plant body, with strongest expression in nodulated roots, source leaves, pods, and seed coats. In roots, PvUPS1 expression was dependent on the status of nodulation, with highest expression in nodules and roots of nodulated plants compared with non-nodulated roots supplied with ammonium nitrate or allantoin. In situ RNA hybridization localized PvUPS1 to the nodule endodermis and the endodermis and phloem of the nodule vasculature. These results strengthen our prediction that in bean nodules, PvUPS1 is involved in delivery of allantoin to the vascular bundle and loading into the nodule phloem.

Transport mechanisms for organic forms of carbon and nitrogen between source and sink

Sugars and amino acids are generated in plants by assimilation from inorganic forms. Assimilated forms cross multiple membranes on their way from production sites to storage or use locations. Specific transport systems are responsible for vacuolar uptake and release, for efflux from the cells, and for uptake into the vasculature. Detailed phylogenetic analyses suggest that only proton-coupled cotransporters involved in phloem loading have been identified to date, whereas systems for vacuolar transport and efflux still await identification. Novel imaging approaches may provide the means to characterize the cellular events and elucidate whole plant control of assimilate partitioning and allocation.

Incorporation of [3H]sucrose after the resorption of nectar from the spur of Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb

Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb., a moth-pollinated orchid, secretes abundant nectar. Sucrose incorporation following the resorption of nectar from the spurs of the pollinated and unpollinated flowers of P. chlorantha was investigated. The study was carried out using 3H-labelled sucrose and microautoradiography. In this orchid species, nectar was secreted and accumulated in the spur. Inside the spur, the epidermis developed numerous unicellular secretory hairs engaged in nectar secretion and resorption. Nectar resorption occurred near the end of anthesis. Following pollination, sucrose from the resorbed nectar was incorporated into starch accumulated in parenchyma cells of developing capsules. Additionally, radioactivity in the cell walls of parenchyma and ovules was also observed. The label was not detected either in the gynoecium of unpollinated flowers or in tuberous roots of all plants investigated. Therefore, the results demonstrate that carbohydrates reclaimed from uncollected nectar in pollinated flowers of P. chlorantha are next utilized inside the adjacent maturing fruits.Key words: Platanthera chlorantha, Orchidaceae, nectar resorption, nectary spur, microautoradiography, pollination.

The chloroplast import receptor Toc34 functions as preprotein-regulated GTPase

Toc34 is a protein of the chloroplast outer envelope membrane that acts as receptor for preproteins containing a transit sequence. The recognition of preproteins by Toc34 is regulated by GTP binding and phosphorylation. The phosphorylation site of Toc34 is located at serine 113, close to the postulated triphosphate binding site. This can explain the down-regulation of Toc34 by phosphorylation, resulting in the loss of GTP binding. Vice versa, GTP but not GDP binding of Toc34 influences the phosphorylation. The nucleotide specificity of Toc34 is not only determined by the classical nucleotide binding domains but by a non-typical region at the N-terminus of the protein. As a result, the GTP binding properties are unusual, since the triphosphate moiety of GTP is bound with higher affinity than the purine base. Purified Toc34 hydrolyses GTP at a low rate, which could regulate the receptor function. The rate of hydrolysis is greatly stimulated by a precursor protein.

The elicitor cryptogein blocks glucose transport in tobacco cells

Cryptogein is a 10-kD protein secreted by the oomycete Phytophthora cryptogea that induces a hypersensitive response on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi) plants and a systemic acquired resistance against various pathogens. The mode of action of this elicitor has been studied using tobacco cell suspensions. Our previous data indicated that within minutes, cryptogein signaling involves various events including changes in ion fluxes, protein phosphorylation, sugar metabolism, and, eventually, cell death. These results suggested that transport of sugars could be affected and, thus, involved in the complex relationships between plant and microorganisms via elicitors. This led us to investigate the effects of cryptogein on glucose (Glc) uptake and mitochondrial activity in tobacco cells. Cryptogein induces an immediate inhibition of Glc uptake, which is not attributable to plasma membrane (PM) depolarization. Conversely, cryptogein-induced valine uptake is because of PM depolarization. Inhibition of the PM Glc transporter(s) was shown to be mediated by a calcium-dependent phosphorylation process, and is independent of active oxygen species production. This inhibition was associated with a strong decrease in O(2) uptake rate by cells and a large mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Thus, inhibition of Glc uptake accompanied by inhibition of phosphorylative oxidation may participate in hypersensitive cell death. These results are discussed in the context of competition between plants and microorganisms for apoplastic sugars.

Utilization and transport of glucose in Olea Europaea cell suspensions

Cell suspensions of Olea europaea var. Galega Vulgar grown in batch culture with 0.5% (w/v) glucose were able to transport D-[(14)C]glucose according to Michaelis-Menten kinetics associated with a first-order kinetics. The monosaccharide carrier exhibited high affinity (K(m) approximately 50 micro M) and was able to transport D-glucose, D-fructose, D-galactose, D-xylose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, but not D-arabinose, D-mannitol or L-glucose. D-[(14)C]glucose uptake was associated with proton uptake, which also followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The transport of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was accumulative (40-fold, at pH 5.0) and the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone strongly inhibited sugar accumulation. The results were consistent with the involvement of a monosaccharide: proton symporter with a stoichiometry of 1 : 1. When cells were grown with 3% (w/v) glucose, the uptake of D-[(14)C]glucose followed first-order kinetics and monosaccharide:proton symporter activity was not detected. The value obtained for the permeability coefficient of hexoses in O. europaea cells supported the hypothesis that the first-order kinetics observed in 0.5% and 3% sugar-grown cells was produced exclusively by passive diffusion of the sugar. The results indicate that in O. europaea cells sugar levels have a regulatory effect on sugar transport, because the activity for monosaccharide transport was repressed by high sugar concentrations.

Peptide transport in plants

Recent completion of the Arabidopsis genome revealed that this organism has ten times more peptide transporters than any other sequenced organism (prokaryote or eukaryote). These transporters are found in three protein families: the ABC-type transporters; the di- and tripeptide transporters; and the newly described tetra- and pentapeptide oligopetide transporters. The abundance of these transporters suggests that they play diverse and important roles in plant growth and development. Possible substrates for these transporters include glutathione, gamma-glutamyl peptides, hormone-amino acid conjugates, phytosulfokine, peptide-like compounds and peptide phytotoxins. However, the exact role of peptide transport in plants is still undefined.

Functional analysis of salt-inducible proline transporter of barley roots

We cloned a cDNA encoding Hordeum vulgare Proline Transporter (HvProT) from salt-stressed barley roots by differential display. HvProT was 2,161 bp long and had an open reading frame encoding 450 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of HvProT was similar to those of proline transporter proteins of rice (65.7%), Arabidopsis (57.7%) and tomato (42.0%). Northern blot analysis showed that the transcript level of HvProT was induced in roots at 30 min after 200 mM NaCl treatment and its peak was observed at 3 h. However, the transcript level was very low in leaves and did not increase by salt stress. The expression level of Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), encoding a key enzyme of proline synthesis, was induced later than HvProT by salt stress. A transport assay using a yeast with mutation in proline uptake revealed that HvProT was a transporter with high affinity for L-proline (K(m) = 25 microM). HvProT was found to be a unique transporter with high affinity for L-proline. Since its transport activity was dependent on the pH gradient, HvProT was suggested to be a H(+)/amino acid symporter. In situ hybridization analysis showed that the HvProT mRNA was strongly expressed in root cap cells under salt stress. HvProT might play an important role in the transport of proline to root tip region urgently upon salt stress.

Sugar transporters in higher plants--a diversity of roles and complex regulation

Sugar-transport proteins play a crucial role in the cell-to-cell and long-distance distribution of sugars throughout the plant. In the past decade, genes encoding sugar transporters (or carriers) have been identified, functionally expressed in heterologous systems, and studied with respect to their spatial and temporal expression. Higher plants possess two distinct families of sugar carriers: the disaccharide transporters that primarily catalyse sucrose transport and the monosaccharide transporters that mediate the transport of a variable range of monosaccharides. The tissue and cellular expression pattern of the respective genes indicates their specific and sometimes unique physiological tasks. Some play a purely nutritional role and supply sugars to cells for growth and development, whereas others are involved in generating osmotic gradients required to drive mass flow or movement. Intriguingly, some carriers might be involved in signalling. Various levels of control regulate these sugar transporters during plant development and when the normal environment is perturbed. This article focuses on members of the monosaccharide transporter and disaccharide transporter families, providing details about their structure, function and regulation. The tissue and cellular distribution of these sugar transporters suggests that they have interesting physiological roles.

Sucrose transporters in plants: update on function and structure

In plants, sucrose is the major transport form for photoassimilated carbon and is both a source of carbon skeletons and energy for plant organs unable to perform photosynthesis (sink organs). As a molecule translocated over distance, sucrose has to pass through a number of membranes. Membrane transport of sucrose has therefore been considered for a long time as a major determinant of plant productivity. After several decades of physiological and biochemical experiments measuring the activity of sucrose carriers, unequivocal evidence came from the first identification of a cDNA coding a sucrose carrier (SoSUT1, Riesmeier et al. (1992) EMBO J. 11, 4705-4713). At present 20 different cDNAs encoding sucrose carriers have been identified in different plant species, in both dicots and monocots (one case). The total number is increasing rapidly and most importantly, it can be guessed from the results obtained for Arabidopsis, that in each species, sucrose transporters represent a gene family. The sequences are highly conserved and those carriers display the typical 12 transmembrane alpha-helices of members of the Major Facilitator superfamily. Yeast expression of those carriers indicate that they are all influx carriers, all cotransport sucrose and proton and that their affinity for sucrose is surprisingly similar (0.2-2 mM). All their characteristics are in agreement with those demonstrated at the physiological level in plants. These characteristics are discussed in relation to the function in plants and the few data available on the structure of those transporters in relation to their function are presented.