Evolutionary trajectory and functional diversity of SWEET sugar transporters in plants

文献类型： 外文期刊

第一作者： Li, Xinyang

作者： Li, Xinyang;Ren, Zhongying;Zhang, Zhiqiang;Liu, Yangai;He, Kunlun;Zhang, Fei;Guo, Jinfeng;Wei, Suhan;Yang, Daigang;Li, Wei;Ren, Zhongying;Yang, Daigang;Li, Wei

作者机构：

关键词： SWEET; sugar transport; green plant; evolutionary trajectory; functional diversity

期刊名称：PLANT JOURNAL （ 影响因子：5.7； 五年影响因子：7.0 ）

ISSN： 0960-7412

年卷期： 2025 年 123 卷 1 期

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporter) proteins are vital for sugar transport in plants, mediating the movement of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, and playing key roles in growth, development, and stress responses. This study identified 1246 SWEET proteins across 59 plant species, spanning from chlorophytes to eudicots. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SWEET proteins originated in chlorophytes and diverged into four clades (I-IV). Chlorophyte SWEETs, classified in clade II, lacked transport activity and were localized on the vacuolar membrane. In charophytes, clade I SWEETs acquired the ability to transport glucose and fructose, marking a significant adaptation during the transition to terrestrial plants. In bryophytes, clade II SWEETs transport glucose and fructose, localized on the vacuolar membrane. In vascular plants, clade IV SWEETs, which emerged in lycophytes, exhibited fructose transport activity and localized to the plasma or vacuolar membranes. Clade III SWEETs, exclusive to seed plants, are specialized in sucrose transport, which is crucial for long-distance sugar distribution. Sequence and structural analysis revealed that the highly conserved transmembrane regions form the triple-helix bundle essential for sugar transport. In contrast, the N-terminal and C-terminal regions contribute to substrate specificity and structural folding. Functional assays confirmed that removal of these non-conserved regions abolishes transport activity. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary origins, functional diversification, and structural significance of SWEET proteins, underscoring their pivotal roles in carbohydrate metabolism and plant diversification. These findings offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sugar transport and its evolutionary adaptations in plants.

分类号：

  • 相关文献
作者其他论文 更多>>

微信小程序