[Seminar] Trehalose-6-phosphate and sucrose – A tale of two sugars
John Lunn, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| When |
14 Mar, 2017
from
02:30 pm to 03:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where | Auditorium |
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Plants for Life 2017 - Invited Speakers
Title: Trehalose-6-phosphate and sucrose – A tale of two sugars
Speaker: John Lunn
Affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
Host: Carla António - Plant Metabolomics Lab
Abstract:
Trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P) is an essential signal metabolite in plants that influences leaf growth and senescence, stomatal function, flowering, inflorescence architecture and embryogenesis. Tre6P closely tracks diurnal and externally imposed fluctuations in the levels of sucrose. We propose that Tre6P functions as both a signal and negative feedback regulator of sucrose levels, helping to maintain intracellular sucrose concentrations within an optimal range. This function can be compared with the insulin-glucagon system for regulating blood glucose levels in animals. In leaves, Tre6P regulates photoassimilate partitioning to sucrose during the day and the remobilization of transitory starch reserves to sucrose at night, linking both of these to demand for sucrose from sink organs. In meristems and other growing tissues, Tre6P signals the availability of sucrose for growth, influencing developmental decisions and the fate of imported sucrose. The intertwined relationship between sucrose and Tre6P is captured in the sucrose-Tre6P nexus concept. This model helps us to understand how Tre6P exerts such a profound influence on plant growth and development, and provides a framework for engineering Tre6P metabolism for crop improvement.
