Abstract
Photosynthates such as glucose, sucrose, and some of their derivatives play dual roles as metabolic intermediates and signaling molecules that influence plant cell metabolism. Such sugars provide substrates for de novo fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis. However, compared with the well-defined examples of sugar signaling in starch and anthocyanin synthesis, until recently relatively little was known about the role of signaling in regulating FA and lipid biosynthesis. Recent research progress shows that trehalose 6-phosphate and 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) play direct signaling roles in the regulation of FA biosynthesis by modulating transcription factor stability and enzymatic activities involved in FA biosynthesis. Specifically, mechanistic links between sucrose non-fermenting−1–related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1)–mediated trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) sensing and its regulation by phosphorylation of WRI1 stability, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) enzyme activity, and of 2-OG–mediated relief of inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) activity by protein PII are exemplified in detail in this review.
Highlights
Sugars occupy a central role in plant metabolism, acting as both metabolic substrates and signaling molecules
Recent reports elucidating the mechanisms by which 2-OG suppresses PII-mediated ACCase inhibition and trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) disrupts SnRK1-mediated turnover of WRI1 along with modulation of DGAT1 activity are revealing the critical roles of sugar signaling in lipid synthesis
It is interesting to note that while PII and KIN10 are unrelated evolutionarily, both mechanistically act as metabolic sensors that bind 2-OG and T6P, respectively
Summary
Zhiyang Zhai†, Jantana Keereetaweep†, Hui Liu†, Changcheng Xu and John Shanklin*. Edited by: Juliette Jouhet, UMR 5168 Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Vegetale (LPCV), France. Photosynthates such as glucose, sucrose, and some of their derivatives play dual roles as metabolic intermediates and signaling molecules that influence plant cell metabolism. Such sugars provide substrates for de novo fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis. Recent research progress shows that trehalose 6-phosphate and 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) play direct signaling roles in the regulation of FA biosynthesis by modulating transcription factor stability and enzymatic activities involved in FA biosynthesis. Mechanistic links between sucrose non-fermenting−1– related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1)–mediated trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) sensing and its regulation by phosphorylation of WRI1 stability, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) enzyme activity, and of 2-OG–mediated relief of inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) activity by protein PII are exemplified in detail in this review
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