A versatile monosaccharide transporter that operates in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp is crucial for the symbiotic relationship with plants

Helber N, Wippel K, Sauer N, Schaarschmidt S, Hause B, Requena N (2011)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

The Plant Cell American Society of Plant Biologists

Book Volume: 23

Pages Range: 3812-3823

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1105/tpc.111.089813

Open Access Link: http://www.plantcell.org/content/23/10/3812.long

Abstract

For more than 400 million years, plants have maintained a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This evolutionary success can be traced to the role of these fungi in providing plants with mineral nutrients, particularly phosphate. In return, photosynthates are given to the fungus, which support its obligate biotrophic lifestyle. Although the mechanisms involved in phosphate transfer have been extensively studied, less is known about the reciprocal transfer of carbon. Here, we present the high-affinity Monosaccharide Transporter2 (MST2) from Glomus sp with a broad substrate spectrum that functions at several symbiotic root locations. Plant cell wall sugars can efficiently outcompete the Glc uptake capacity of MST2, suggesting they can serve as alternative carbon sources. MST2 expression closely correlates with that of the mycorrhiza-specific Phosphate Transporter4 (PT4). Furthermore, reduction of MST2 expression using host-induced gene silencing resulted in impaired mycorrhiza formation, malformed arbuscules, and reduced PT4 expression. These findings highlight the symbiotic role of MST2 and support the hypothesis that the exchange of carbon for phosphate is tightly linked. Unexpectedly, we found that the external mycelium of AM fungi is able to take up sugars in a proton-dependent manner. These results imply that the sugar uptake system operating in this symbiosis is more complex than previously anticipated. © 2011 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Authors with CRIS profile

Norbert Sauer Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie

Involved external institutions

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE) Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry / Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzenbiochemie DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Helber, N., Wippel, K., Sauer, N., Schaarschmidt, S., Hause, B., & Requena, N. (2011). A versatile monosaccharide transporter that operates in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp is crucial for the symbiotic relationship with plants. The Plant Cell, 23(10), 3812-3823. https://dx.doi.org/10.1105/tpc.111.089813

MLA:

Helber, Nicole, et al. "A versatile monosaccharide transporter that operates in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus sp is crucial for the symbiotic relationship with plants." The Plant Cell 23.10 (2011): 3812-3823.

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