An unexpected plethora of trehalose biosynthesis genes in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Trehalose accumulation has been documented in many organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, where it serves a storage and stress-protection role. Although conspicuously absent in most plants, trehalose biosynthesis genes were discovered recently in higher plants. We have uncovered a family of 11 TPS genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, one of which encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate (Tre6P) synthase, and a subfamily of which might encode the still elusive Tre6P phosphatases. A regulatory role in carbon metabolism is likely but might not be restricted to the TPS control of hexokinase activity as documented for yeast. Incompatibility between high trehalose levels and chaperone-assisted protein folding might be a reason why plants have evolved to accumulate some alternative stress-protection compounds to trehalose.
Leyman
B
B
Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie-VIB, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Flanders, Belgium. barbara.leyman@bio.kuleuven.ac.be
Van Dijck
P
P
Thevelein
J M
JM
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006019:Glycolysis; D006593:Hexokinase / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013403:Sugar Phosphates / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014199:Trehalose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D013403:Sugar Phosphates; C082722:trehalose-6-phosphate; D014199:Trehalose; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C023180:trehalose-6-phosphate synthase; D006593:Hexokinase