SUC2 Gene Research Articles

Metagenomics reveals the microbial community and functional metabolism variation in the partial nitritation-anammox process: From collapse to recovery

Mainstream partial nitritation-anammox (PNA) process easily suffers from performance instability and even reactor collapse in application. Thus, it is of great significance to unveil the characteristic of performance recovery, understand the intrinsic mechanism and then propose operational strategy. In this study, we combined long-term reactor operation, batch tests, and metagenomics to reveal the succession of microbial community and functional metabolism variation from system collapse to recovery. Proper aeration control (0.10-0.25 mg O2/L) was critical for performance recovery. It was also found that Candidatus Brocadia became the dominant flora and its abundance increased from 3.5% to 11.0%. Significant enhancements in carbon metabolism and phospholipid biosynthesis were observed during system recovery, and the genes abundance related to signal transduction was dramatically increased. The up-regulation of sdh and suc genes showed the processes of succinate dehydrogenation and succinyl-CoA synthesis might stimulate the production of amino acids and the synthesis of proteins, thereby possibly improving the activity and abundance of AnAOB, which was conducive to the performance recovery. Moreover, the increase in abundance of hzs and hdh genes suggested the enhancement of the anammox process. Changes in the abundance of key genes involved in nitrogen metabolism indicated that nitrogen removal pathway was more diverse after system recovery. The achievement of performance recovery was driven by anammox, nitrification and denitrification coupled with dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. These results provide deeper insights into the recovery mechanism of PNA system and also provide a potential regulation strategy for the stable operation of the mainstream PNA process.

Expressing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUC2 gene encoding invertase apoplastic localization in the transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) does not contribute to microtubers production of identical physiological age

Study was aimed at assessing the role of apoplastic invertase in synchronization of the microtuber formation in potato plants in vitro. A non-transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants (hereinafter nonTPs) and a line of potato plants, which expressed the SUC2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding invertase apoplastic localization under the control of the B33 promoter of the patatin gene (hereinafter TPs), was used to achieve this purpose. Cell divisions in the axillary meristems of single-node cuttings were synchronized by exposing to 7°C for 24 h in a MS medium (without agar). After the low-temperature, the synchronization (LTS) of proportion of simultaneously dividing cells in meristems of nonTPs was four-fold greater than without chilling. The LTS did not change the number of dividing cells in the axillary meristems of TPs. The LTS contributed to an increase in the mass and size of microtubers in both potato lines. All microtubers of nonTPs were of physiological maturity. At the same time, microtubers of TPs were physiologically immature, with high glucose content. During the tuber formation, the activity of acidic invertases in microtubers of TPs was higher than that of nonTPs. Microtubers of TPs were larger than the nonTPs, more hydrated with low starch amount. Propably glucose accumulated in the microtubers of the TPs may act as a signal to trigger cell division. It indicates the regulatory function of apoplastic invertase and sugars. The high activity of apoplastic invertase plays a negative role in the production of potato microtubers of identical physiological age.

The Influence of Yarrowia lipolytica Glycosylation on the Biochemical Properties and Oligomerization of Heterologous Invertase

Invertases are important enzymes used in the food industry. Despite many studies on the invertase-encoding SUC2 gene expression in the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, no biochemical characteristics of this enzyme expressed as heterologous protein have been provided. Here, two isoforms of extracellular invertase produced by Y. lipolytica were detected using ion-exchange chromatography. Specific activities of 226.45 and 432.66 U/mg for the first and second isoform, respectively, were determined. Basic characteristics of this enzyme were similar to the one isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (optimum pH and temperature, metal ions inhibition, substrate specificity and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) biosynthesis). The apparent differences were higher KM for sucrose (67 mM) and lower molecular mass (66 kDa) resulting from lower N-glycosylation level (9.1% of mass). The N-glycan structures determined by MALDI-TOF and HPLC represented high mannose structures, though with much shorter chains than hypermannosylated glycans from S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, galactose was detected as the modifying sugar in the glycan structures of invertase expressed in Y. lipolytica. N-glycans did not affect invertase activity but were important for its oligomerization. The expressed enzyme aggregated into dimers, tetramers, hexamers, and octamers, as well as structures of higher molecular mass, which might be decamers, which have not been described so far in the literature.

Contrasting Strategies for Sucrose Utilization in a Floral Yeast Clade.

ABSTRACTYeast species in the Wickerhamiella and Starmerella genera (W/S clade) thrive in the sugar-rich floral niche. We have previously shown that species belonging to this clade harbor an unparalleled number of genes of bacterial origin, among which is the SUC2 gene, encoding a sucrose-hydrolyzing enzyme. In this study, we used complementary in silico and experimental approaches to examine sucrose utilization in a broader cohort of species representing extant diversity in the W/S clade. Distinct strategies and modes of sucrose assimilation were unveiled, involving either extracellular sucrose hydrolysis through secreted bacterial Suc2 or intracellular assimilation using broad-substrate-range α-glucoside/H+ symporters and α-glucosidases. The intracellular pathway is encoded in two types of gene clusters reminiscent of the MAL clusters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where they are involved in maltose utilization. The genes composing each of the two types of MAL clusters found in the W/S clade have disparate evolutionary histories, suggesting that they formed de novo. Both transporters and glucosidases were shown to be functional and additionally involved in the metabolization of other disaccharides, such as maltose and melezitose. In one Wickerhamiella species lacking the α-glucoside transporter, maltose assimilation is accomplished extracellularly, an attribute which has been rarely observed in fungi. Sucrose assimilation in Wickerhamiella generally escaped both glucose repression and the need for an activator and is thus essentially constitutive, which is consistent with the abundance of both glucose and sucrose in the floral niche. The notable plasticity associated with disaccharide utilization in the W/S clade is discussed in the context of ecological implications and energy metabolism.IMPORTANCE Microbes usually have flexible metabolic capabilities and are able to use different compounds to meet their needs. The yeasts belonging to the Wickerhamiella and Starmerella genera (forming the so-called W/S clade) are usually found in flowers or insects that visit flowers and are known for having acquired many genes from bacteria by a process called horizontal gene transfer. One such gene, dubbed SUC2, is used to assimilate sucrose, which is one of the most abundant sugars in floral nectar. Here, we show that different lineages within the W/S clade used different solutions for sucrose utilization that dispensed SUC2 and differed in their energy requirements, in their capacity to scavenge small amounts of sucrose from the environment, and in the potential for sharing this resource with other microbial species. We posit that this plasticity is possibly dictated by adaptation to the specific requirements of each species.

Expression of the SUC2 gene does not contribute to the synchronization of tuberization in potatoes in vitro

Expression of the SUC2 gene does not contribute to the synchronization of tuberization in potatoes in vitro

Expression of the SUC2 gene does not contribute to the synchronization of tuberization in potatoes in vitro

Expression of the SUC2 gene does not contribute to the synchronization of tuberization in potatoes in vitro

Small Differences in SUC Gene Sequences Impact Saccharomyces cerevisiae Invertase Activity and Specificity toward Fructans with Different Chain Lengths.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae)invertase is encoded by a family of closely related SUC genes. To identify and understand the molecular basis for differences in substrate specificity, we examined 29 SUC alleles from industrialS. cerevisiaestrains and cloned alleles with small sequence differences into an invertase-negative strain. Our study showed that an F102Y substitution in Suc-enzymes lowers yeast invertase activity toward fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) by 36% and the specificity factor by 43%. By contrast, an A409P substitution in Suc-enzymes resulted in an increased capacity of the yeast to hydrolyze FOS and Fibruline by 17 and 41%, respectively, likely because of a change in the loop conformation resulting in a wider active site. Bread dough fermentation experiments revealed that sucrose and fructan hydrolysis during fermentation is influenced by this natural variation in SUC sequences. Our research thus opens the door for the selection or engineering of yeasts and Suc-enzymes with specific activities that may ultimately allow controlling fructan hydrolysis.

ITRAQ analysis reveals the effect of gabD and sucA gene knockouts on lysine metabolism and crystal protein formation in Bacillus thuringiensis

Lysine metabolism plays an important role in the formation of the insecticidal crystal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The genes lam, gabD and sucA encode three key enzymes of the lysine metabolic pathway in Bt4.0718. The lam gene mainly affects the cell growth at stable period, negligibly affected sporulation and insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) production. While, the deletion mutant strains of the gabD and sucA genes showed that the growth, sporulation and crystal protein formation were inhibited, cells became slender, and insecticidal activity was significantly reduced. iTRAQ proteomics and qRT-PCR used to analyse the differentially expressed protein (DEP) between the two mutant strains and the wild type strain. The functions of DEPs were visualized and statistically classified, which affect bacterial growth and metabolism by regulating biological metabolism pathways: the major carbon metabolism pathways, amino acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation pathways, nucleic acid metabolism, fatty acid synthesis and peptidoglycan synthesis. The gabD and sucA genes in lysine metabolic pathway are closely related to the sporulation and crystal proteins formation. The effects of DEPs and functional genes on basic cellular metabolic pathways were studied to provide new strategies for the construction of highly virulent insecticidal strains, the targeted transformation of functional genes.

Bioconversion of Beet Molasses to Alpha-Galactosidase and Ethanol.

Molasses are sub-products of the sugar industry, rich in sucrose and containing other sugars like raffinose, glucose, and fructose. Alpha-galactosidases (EC. 3.2.1.22) catalyze the hydrolysis of alpha-(1,6) bonds of galactose residues in galacto-oligosaccharides (melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose) and complex galactomannans. Alpha-galactosidases have important applications, mainly in the food industry but also in the pharmaceutical and bioenergy sectors. However, the cost of the enzyme limits the profitability of most of these applications. The use of cheap sub-products, such as molasses, as substrates for production of alpha-galactosidases, reduces the cost of the enzymes and contributes to the circular economy. Alpha-galactosidase is a specially indicated bioproduct since, at the same time, it allows to use the raffinose present in molasses. This work describes the development of a two-step system for the valuation of beet molasses, based on their use as substrate for alpha-galactosidase and bioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Since this yeast secretes high amounts of invertase, to avoid congest the secretory route and to facilitate alpha-galactosidase purification from the culture medium, a mutant in the SUC2 gene (encoding invertase) was constructed. After a statistical optimization of culture conditions, this mutant yielded a very high rate of molasses bioconversion to alpha-galactosidase. In the second step, the SUC2 wild type yeast strain fermented the remaining sucrose to ethanol. A procedure to recycle the yeast biomass, by using it as nitrogen source to supplement molasses, was also developed.

Identification of sucA, Encoding β-Fructofuranosidase, in Rhizopus microsporus.

Rhizopus microsporus NBRC 32995 was found to hydrolyze fructooligosaccharides (FOS), as well as sucrose, almost completely into monosaccharides through the production of sufficient amounts of organic acids, indicating that the complete hydrolysis of FOS was caused by the secretion of β-fructofuranosidase from fungal cells. Thus, the sucA gene, encoding a β-fructofuranosidase, was amplified by degenerate PCR, and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The total length of the sucA gene was 1590 bp, and the SucA protein of R. microsporus NBRC 32995 belonged to clade VIa, which also contains Rhizopus delemar and is closely related to Saccharomycotina, a subdivision of the Ascomycota.

Single-Step Gene Knockout of the SUC2 Gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae : A Laboratory Exercise for Undergraduate Students.

This article describes a relatively straightforward procedure to knock out the gene that encodes the invertase enzyme in baker’s yeast. The SUC2 gene, which encodes for the invertase enzyme, is knocked out by a single-step PCR knock out method. The knockout is subsequently confirmed at the genetic level by PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. The knockout is confirmed at the biochemical level by measuring the activity of the invertase enzyme using a colorimetric assay. This tips and tools article describes an easily scalable, inexpensive, yet challenging research project helping undergraduate students at the Bachelor level to conceptualize the effect of the deletion of a gene encoding an enzyme.

Molecular Studies for Putative Promoter Activity in mdh sucCDAB Operon in Sinorhizobium meliloti

The theoretical data on the malate dehydrogenase (mdh), succinyl-CoA synthetase (sucCDAB) operon in Sinorhizobium meliloti and the experimental data suggest that this operon is regulated from the promoter upstream of mdh gene. On the other hand, the untranslated intergenic region between the sucD and sucA genes is TA rich and could also contains active promoter site, as it was described previously in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In this study the mdh upstream region and the intergenic region between sucD and sucA were analyzed, isolated and cloned in pOT1-green fluorescence protein (gfp)-fusion plasmid to examine the possibility of promoter activity. Sequences analyzed by promoter hunter program indicated that both regions have promoter sequences and transcription starting sites (TSS). In addition the measurement of the relative fluorescence units (RFU) indicated that the mdh upstream region contains a constitutive promoter which was active under all tested conditions. While the intergenic region between sucD and sucA also contain active promoter site, induced only by LBmc medium and M9 medium containing glutamate as sole carbon source. The overall results suggest that sucA expression is initiated from its own upstream promoter.

Polyol production from waste materials by genetically modified Yarrowia lipolytica

Sugar alcohols (polyols) are sweeteners with many industrial applications. In this study, a fermentation process of polyol production based on waste substrates – raw industrial molasses and crude glycerol – was tested. The yeast strain Yarrowia lipolytica Wratislavia K1 was genetically modified by overexpression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUC2 gene and overexpression of the native GUT1 gene. This process allowed for sucrose utilization and rapid glycerol assimilation by the engineered strain. In this study, the obtained strain AIB pAD-UTGut1 produced 100.65±3.75g/l of polyols, with productivity of 1.09±0.9g/lh and yield of 0.67±0.2g/g. This is the first study describing efficient polyol production by the modified Y. lipolytica strain from industrial raw molasses and crude glycerol. By process optimization, we established conditions for abundant polyol synthesis from low-value substrates.

Stress-responsively modulated ymdAB-clsC operon plays a role in biofilm formation and apramycin susceptibility in Escherichia coli.

The YmdB protein, an inhibitor of biofilm formation and an inducer of apramycin susceptibility in Escherichia coli (E. coli), is part of a putative operon. However, transcription of this operon and its subsequent effects on biological pathways has not been fully studied. Here, we characterized the operon in terms of promoter activity, transcription and function. Promoter activity assays identified two new growth- and cold-shock-responsive upstream (PymdA) and inner (PclsC) promoters, respectively. Moreover, investigation of the operon-derived transcripts identified different polycistronic transcripts harboring multiple heterogeneous 3΄ ends. Overexpression of YmdA or ClsC proteins inhibited biofilm formation and affected apramycin susceptibility, a process dependent on the sucA gene, suggesting that the operon genes or their encoded proteins are functionally linked. Additional investigation of the effects of polycistronic transcripts on the response of E. coli cells to apramycin revealed that transcripts containing ymdA (-213 to +27) are required for apramycin susceptibility. Thus, ymdAB-clsC is a new stress-responsive operon that plays a role in inhibiting undesired biofilm forming and antibiotic-resistant bacterial populations.

Transformation of the Solanum tuberosum with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gene Suc2 Encoding Cell-Wall Invertase Influences on Sugars Distribution in Plants

Introduction: Invertase is the key enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism, which catalyzes the sucrose hydrolysis. In this study, we investigated a functional role of the apoplastic invertase (cell-wall invertase) on sugars distribution in vegetative organs and cell compartments of potato plants in vitro.Methods: Our study was carried out with potato (S. tuberosum L., cv. Desiree) plants and the line which expressed the suc2 gene of S. cerevisiae under control of the tuberspecific patatin B33-promoter of class I with an N-end-connected potato proteinase II inhibitor signal peptide, which provides apoplastic localization of yeast invertase. The suc2 gene expression were shown using RT-PCR. The results of Ds-Na-PAGE of apoplast proteins from leaves and MALDI-TOF MS analysis indicate the presence of the yeast invertase in the apoplastic space of the transgenic potato plants. The content of fructose and sucrose was determined according to Roe. The glucose content was determined by the glucose oxidase method.Results: The integrated target suc2 gene encodes the invertase of yeast with an N-endconnected potato proteinase II inhibitor signal peptide, which provides apoplastic localization of foreign invertase.Conclusions: Transformation of potato plants resulted in accumulation of fructose in the apoplast, sucrose and glucose in the leaves, and especially, glucose in roots and microtubers. It is indicative of regulatory function of cell-wall invertase that could be found some application in medical, biological and pharmaceutical engineering.

An artificial TCA cycle selects for efficient α-ketoglutarate dependent hydroxylase catalysis in engineered Escherichia coli.

Amino acid hydroxylases depend directly on the cellular TCA cycle via their cosubstrate α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and are highly useful for the selective biocatalytic oxyfunctionalization of amino acids. This study evaluates TCA cycle engineering strategies to force and increase α-KG flux through proline-4-hydroxylase (P4H). The genes sucA (α-KG dehydrogenase E1 subunit) and sucC (succinyl-CoA synthetase β subunit) were alternately deleted together with aceA (isocitrate lyase) in proline degradation-deficient Escherichia coli strains (ΔputA) expressing the p4h gene. Whereas, the ΔsucCΔaceAΔputA strain grew in minimal medium in the absence of P4H, relying on the activity of fumarate reductase, growth of the ΔsucAΔaceAΔputA strictly depended on P4H activity, thus coupling growth to proline hydroxylation. P4H restored growth, even when proline was not externally added. However, the reduced succinyl-CoA pool caused a 27% decrease of the average cell size compared to the wildtype strain. Medium supplementation partially restored the morphology and, in some cases, enhanced proline hydroxylation activity. The specific proline hydroxylation rate doubled when putP, encoding the Na+ /l-proline transporter, was overexpressed in the ΔsucAΔaceAΔputA strain. This is in contrast to wildtype and ΔputA single-knock out strains, in which α-KG availability obviously limited proline hydroxylation. Such α-KG limitation was relieved in the ΔsucAΔaceAΔputA strain. Furthermore, the ΔsucAΔaceAΔputA strain was used to demonstrate an agar plate-based method for the identification and selection of active α-KG dependent hydroxylases. This together with the possibility to waive selection pressure and overcome α-KG limitation in respective hydroxylation processes based on living cells emphasizes the potential of TCA cycle engineering for the productive application of α-KG dependent hydroxylases. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1511-1520. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid using xylose.

Biomass-derived xylose is an economically interesting substrate for the sustainable microbial production of value-added compounds. Escherichia coli could barely use xylose to directly produce gamma-aminobutyric acid. In this study, E. coli strains that could directly produce gamma-aminobutyric acid were developed through the deletion of eight genes sucA, puuE, gabT, gabP, xylA, xylB, waaC, and waaF, and the overexpression of two E. coli genes gadB and gdhA, as well as five Caulobacter crescent genes CcxylA, CcxylB, CcxylC, CcxylD, and CcxylX. Both E. coli strains W3110 and JM109 could directly produce gamma-aminobutyric acid from xylose after either overexpression of the seven genes or deletion of the eight genes. Overexpression of the seven genes of in the multiple deletion mutants further increased gamma-aminobutyric acid production. Among the 28 recombinant E. coli strains constructed in this study, the highest gamma-aminobutyric acid was produced by JWZ08/pWZt7-g3/pWZt7-xyl. JWZ08/pWZt7-g3/pWZt7-xyl could produce 3.95g/L gamma-aminobutyric acid in flask cultivation, using xylose as the sole carbon source.

Characterisation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonellae during 2014–2015 from Four Centres Across India: An ICMR Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network Report

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to establish ‘Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network’ in India and to monitor the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of clinical isolates to establish a national network across the country for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella. MaterialsandMethods: This study was conducted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, nodal centre with clinical isolates of Salmonellae collected from four centres across India, which included Christian Medical College, Vellore; Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry. Total 20% of the selected strains from each centre were characterised for molecular studies which included molecular mechanism of fluoroquinolones resistance and multiple locus sequence type. Results: A total of 622 Salmonellae were received from all centres during January 2014 to December 2015. Out of these 622 isolates, 380 were Salmonella Typhi, 162 were Salmonella Paratyphi A and 7 were S. Paratyphi B isolated from blood and 73 were other Salmonella serotypes. Multiple drug resistance (resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole) was less than 3% in S. Typhi. In S. Paratyphi A, chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole susceptibility was 100% and 99%, respectively, whereas ampicillin susceptibility was 86% (139/161). Ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid susceptibility was 15% (24/162) and 1% (2/162) from all centres. S. Paratyphi B was isolated from 7 patients. All isolates were third-generation cephalosporin sensitive. The most common mutations found were at codon 83 and at codon 87. We did not find any mutation in acrR gene. Efflux pump and qnr genes were not found in any isolate tested. All 86 S. Typhi isolates clustered into two sequence types - ST1 and ST2. Out of these 86 isolates, 70 S. Typhi were ST1 and 16 were ST2. All S. Paratyphi A was clustered in ST85 and ST129 on the basis of mutation in sucA gene. Out of 27 S. Paratyphi A, 13 were grouped into ST85 and 14 were grouped into ST129. Conclusions: Enteric fever is one such infection which poses challenges in antimicrobial resistance. Hence, continuous surveillance is important to track bacterial resistance and to treat infections in a cost-effective manner.

Recombination Is a Major Driving Force of Genetic Diversity in the Anaplasmataceae Ehrlichia ruminantium.

The disease, Heartwater, caused by the Anaplasmataceae E. ruminantium, represents a major problem for tropical livestock and wild ruminants. Up to now, no effective vaccine has been available due to a limited cross protection of vaccinal strains on field strains and a high genetic diversity of Ehrlichia ruminantium within geographical locations. To address this issue, we inferred the genetic diversity and population structure of 194 E. ruminantium isolates circulating worldwide using Multilocus Sequence Typing based on lipA, lipB, secY, sodB, and sucA genes. Phylogenetic trees and networks were generated using BEAST and SplitsTree, respectively, and recombination between the different genetic groups was tested using the PHI test for recombination. Our study reveals the repeated occurrence of recombination between E. ruminantium strains, suggesting that it may occur frequently in the genome and has likely played an important role in the maintenance of genetic diversity and the evolution of E. ruminantium. Despite the unclear phylogeny and phylogeography, E. ruminantium isolates are clustered into two main groups: Group 1 (West Africa) and a Group 2 (worldwide) which is represented by West, East, and Southern Africa, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean strains. Some sequence types are common between West Africa and Caribbean and between Southern Africa and Indian Ocean strains. These common sequence types highlight two main introduction events due to the movement of cattle: from West Africa to Caribbean and from Southern Africa to the Indian Ocean islands. Due to the long branch lengths between Group 1 and Group 2, and the propensity for recombination between these groups, it seems that the West African clusters of Subgroup 2 arrived there more recently than the original divergence of the two groups, possibly with the original waves of domesticated ruminants that spread across the African continent several thousand years ago.

Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiling of the SUC and SWEET Gene Families of Sucrose Transporters in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.).

Sucrose is the principal transported product of photosynthesis from source leaves to sink organs. SUTs/SUCs (sucrose transporters or sucrose carriers) and SWEETs (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) play significant central roles in phloem loading and unloading. SUTs/SUCs and SWEETs are key players in sucrose translocation and are associated with crop yields. The SUT/SUC and SWEET genes have been characterized in several plant species, but a comprehensive analysis of these two gene families in oilseed rape has not yet been reported. In our study, 22 and 68 members of the SUT/SUCs and SWEET gene families, respectively, were identified in the oilseed rape (Brassica napus) genome through homology searches. An analysis of the chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, motifs and the cis-acting regulatory elements in the promoters of BnSUC and BnSWEET genes were analyzed. Furthermore, we examined the expression of the 18 BnSUC and 16 BnSWEET genes in different tissues of “ZS11” and the expression of 9 BnSUC and 7 BnSWEET genes in “ZS11” under various conditions, including biotic stress (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), abiotic stresses (drought, salt and heat), and hormone treatments (abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinin, brassinolide, gibberellin, and salicylic acid). In conclusion, our study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the oilseed rape SUC and SWEET gene families. Information regarding the phylogenetic relationships, gene structure and expression profiles of the SUC and SWEET genes in the different tissues of oilseed rape helps to identify candidates with potential roles in specific developmental processes. Our study advances our understanding of the important roles of sucrose transport in oilseed rape.