Research Advances in the Structure,Function and Regulation of SWEET Gene Family in Plants

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2017.04.004

Abstract

Abstract: SWEETs（sugars will eventually be exported transporters）are a novel class of recently identified sugar transporters. SWEETs appear to function as a bidirectional uniporter/facilitator,facilitating diffusion of sugars across cell membranes along a concentration gradient. SWEETs play central roles in a number of biochemical processes,such as phloem loading for long-distance sugar transport,nectar secretion,seed filling,pollen nutrition,plant-pathogen interaction and stress regulation,so they had attracted much attention in recent years. SWEETs are widely found in plants. However,only a few species,such as Arabidopsis and rice,of the SWEETs have been functionally identified. This article focuses on the advances of the SWEET gene family,including details about their discovering,characteristics of protein structure,physiological functions and regulation in plants. It will help to elucidate the molecular bases of their function in plants more in-depth and comprehensive in the future.

Key words: sugar transporter, SWEET, function, regulation, research advance

HU Li-ping, ZHANG Feng, XU Hui, LIU Guang-min, WANG Ya-qin, HE Hong-ju. Research Advances in the Structure,Function and Regulation of SWEET Gene Family in Plants[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2017, 33(4): 27-37.

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