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Liu H, Yao X, Fan J, Lv L, Zhao Y, Nie J, Guo Y, Zhang L, Huang H, Shi Y, Zhang Q, Li J, Sui X. Cell wall invertase 3 plays critical roles in providing sugars during pollination and fertilization in cucumber. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:1293-1311. [PMID: 38428987 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
In plants, pollen-pistil interactions during pollination and fertilization mediate pollen hydration and germination, pollen tube growth, and seed set and development. Cell wall invertases (CWINs) help provide the carbohydrates for pollen development; however, their roles in pollination and fertilization have not been well established. In cucumber (Cucumis sativus), CsCWIN3 showed the highest expression in flowers, and we further examined CsCWIN3 for functions during pollination to seed set. Both CsCWIN3 transcript and CsCWIN3 protein exhibited similar expression patterns in the sepals, petals, stamen filaments, anther tapetum, and pollen of male flowers, as well as in the stigma, style, transmitting tract, and ovule funiculus of female flowers. Notably, repression of CsCWIN3 in cucumber did not affect the formation of parthenocarpic fruit but resulted in an arrested growth of stigma integuments in female flowers and a partially delayed dehiscence of anthers with decreased pollen viability in male flowers. Consequently, the pollen tube grew poorly in the gynoecia after pollination. In addition, CsCWIN3-RNA interference plants also showed affected seed development. Considering that sugar transporters could function in cucumber fecundity, we highlight the role of CsCWIN3 and a potential close collaboration between CWIN and sugar transporters in these processes. Overall, we used molecular and physiological analyses to determine the CsCWIN3-mediated metabolism during pollen formation, pollen tube growth, and plant fecundity. CsCWIN3 has essential roles from pollination and fertilization to seed set but not parthenocarpic fruit development in cucumber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuehui Yao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingwei Fan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lijun Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yalong Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Nie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yicong Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lidong Zhang
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Hongyu Huang
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yuzi Shi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiawang Li
- Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin Kernel Cucumber Research Institute, Tianjin 300192, China
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xiaolei Sui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Hu L, Tian J, Zhang F, Song S, Cheng B, Liu G, Liu H, Zhao X, Wang Y, He H. Functional Characterization of CsSWEET5a, a Cucumber Hexose Transporter That Mediates the Hexose Supply for Pollen Development and Rescues Male Fertility in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1332. [PMID: 38279332 PMCID: PMC10816302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pollen cells require large amounts of sugars from the anther to support their development, which is critical for plant sexual reproduction and crop yield. Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) have been shown to play an important role in the apoplasmic unloading of sugars from anther tissues into symplasmically isolated developing pollen cells and thereby affect the sugar supply for pollen development. However, among the 17 CsSWEET genes identified in the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genome, the CsSWEET gene involved in this process has not been identified. Here, a member of the SWEET gene family, CsSWEET5a, was identified and characterized. The quantitative real-time PCR and β-glucuronidase expression analysis revealed that CsSWEET5a is highly expressed in the anthers and pollen cells of male cucumber flowers from the microsporocyte stage (stage 9) to the mature pollen stage (stage 12). Its subcellular localization indicated that the CsSWEET5a protein is localized to the plasma membrane. The heterologous expression assays in yeast demonstrated that CsSWEET5a encodes a hexose transporter that can complement both glucose and fructose transport deficiencies. CsSWEET5a can significantly rescue the pollen viability and fertility of atsweet8 mutant Arabidopsis plants. The possible role of CsSWEET5a in supplying hexose to developing pollen cells via the apoplast is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Hu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jiaxing Tian
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (J.T.); (F.Z.)
| | - Feng Zhang
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (J.T.); (F.Z.)
| | - Shuhui Song
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Bing Cheng
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Guangmin Liu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Huan Liu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xuezhi Zhao
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yaqin Wang
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
| | - Hongju He
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; (L.H.); (S.S.); (B.C.); (G.L.); (H.L.); (X.Z.)
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Nie P, Wang L, Li M, Lyu D, Qin S, Xue X. MdSWEET23, a sucrose transporter from apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh.), influences sugar metabolism and enhances cold tolerance in tomato. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1266194. [PMID: 37854110 PMCID: PMC10579938 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1266194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic products in most fleshy fruits are unloaded via the apoplasmic pathway. Sugar transporters play an important role in the apoplasmic unloading pathway and are involved in sugar transport for fruit development. The MdSWEET23, cloned from ''Hanfu'' apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruits, belongs to Clade III of the SWEET family. Subcellular localization revealed that MdSWEET23 is localized on the plasma membrane. β-glucuronidase activity assays showed that MdSWEET23 was primarily expressed in the sepal and carpel vascular bundle of apple fruits. Heterologous expression assays in yeast showed that MdSWEET23 functions in sucrose transport. The overexpression of MdSWEET23 in the ''Orin" calli increased the soluble sugar content. The silencing of MdSWEET23 significantly reduced the contents of sucrose and sorbitol in apple fruits. Ectopic overexpression of MdSWEET23 in tomato altered sugar metabolism and distribution in leaves and fruits, causing a reduction in photosynthetic rates and plant height, enhanced cold stress tolerance, and increased the content of sucrose, fructose, and glucose in breaking color fruits, but did not increase sugar sink potency of tomato fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixian Nie
- Shandong Institute of Pomology, Taian, China
| | | | - Miao Li
- Shandong Institute of Pomology, Taian, China
| | - Deguo Lyu
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Sijun Qin
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaomin Xue
- Shandong Institute of Pomology, Taian, China
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Liu H, Liu X, Zhao Y, Nie J, Yao X, Lv L, Yang J, Ma N, Guo Y, Li Y, Yang X, Lin T, Sui X. Alkaline α-galactosidase 2 (CsAGA2) plays a pivotal role in mediating source-sink communication in cucumber. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:1501-1518. [PMID: 35357489 PMCID: PMC9237694 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Sugars are necessary for plant growth and fruit development. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) transports sugars, mainly raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), in the vascular bundle. As the dominant sugars in cucumber fruit, glucose and fructose are derived from sucrose, which is the product of RFO hydrolysis by α-galactosidase (α-Gal). Here, we characterized the cucumber alkaline α-galactosidase 2 (CsAGA2) gene and found that CsAGA2 has undergone human selection during cucumber domestication. Further experiments showed that the expression of CsAGA2 increases gradually during fruit development, especially in fruit vasculature. In CsAGA2-RNA interference (RNAi) lines, fruit growth was delayed because of lower hexose production in the peduncle and fruit main vascular bundle (MVB). In contrast, CsAGA2-overexpressing (OE) plants displayed bigger fruits. Functional enrichment analysis of transcriptional data indicated that genes related to sugar metabolism, cell wall metabolism, and hormone signaling were significantly downregulated in the peduncle and fruit MVBs of CsAGA2-RNAi plants. Moreover, downregulation of CsAGA2 also caused negative feedback regulation on source leaves, which was shown by reduced photosynthetic efficiency, fewer plasmodesmata at the surface between mesophyll cell and intermediary cell (IC) or between IC and sieve element, and downregulated gene expression and enzyme activities related to phloem loading, as well as decreased sugar production and exportation from leaves and petioles. The opposite trend was observed in CsAGA2-OE lines. Overall, we conclude that CsAGA2 is essential for cucumber fruit set and development through mediation of sugar communication between sink strength and source activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yalong Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Nie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuehui Yao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lijun Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junwei Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ning Ma
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yicong Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yaxin Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xueyong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sino-Dutch Joint Laboratory of Horticultural Genomics, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Tao Lin
- Authors for correspondence: (T.L.); (X.S.)
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Hu L, Zhang F, Song S, Yu X, Ren Y, Zhao X, Liu H, Liu G, Wang Y, He H. CsSWEET2, a Hexose Transporter from Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.), Affects Sugar Metabolism and Improves Cold Tolerance in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073886. [PMID: 35409244 PMCID: PMC8999130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sugars, which are critical osmotic compounds and signalling molecules in plants, and Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs), which constitute a novel family of sugar transporters, play central roles in plant responses to multiple abiotic stresses. In the present study, a member of the SWEET gene family from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), CsSWEET2, was identified and characterized. Histochemical analysis of β-glucuronidase expression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed that CsSWEET2 is highly expressed in the leaves; subcellular localization indicated that CsSWEET2 proteins are localized in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum. Heterologous expression assays in yeast demonstrated that CsSWEET2 encodes an energy-independent hexose/H+ uniporter that can complement both glucose and fructose transport deficiencies. Compared with wild-type Arabidopsis plants, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing CsSWEET2 had much lower relative electrolyte leakage levels and were much more resistant to cold stress. Sugar content analysis showed that glucose and fructose levels in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants were significantly higher than those in the wild-type plants. Taken together, our results suggest that, by mediating sugar metabolism and compartmentation, CsSWEET2 plays a vital role in improving plant cold tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Hu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Shuhui Song
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Xiaolu Yu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yi Ren
- Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Xuezhi Zhao
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Guangmin Liu
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yaqin Wang
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Hongju He
- Institute of Agri-Food Processing and Nutrition, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetable Storage and Processing, Beijing 100097, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetable Postharvest Processing of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, Beijing 100097, China
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