Sucrose may play an additional role to that of an osmolyte in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 salt-shocked cells.

Abstract

The role of sucrose in cyanobacteria is still not fully understood. It is generally considered a salt-response molecule, and particularly, in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, it is referred as a secondary osmolyte. We showed that sucrose accumulates transiently in Synechocystis cells at early stages of a salt shock, which could be ascribed to salt activation of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS, UDP-glucose: D-fructose-6-phosphate 2-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase; EC 2.4.1.14), the key enzyme in sucrose synthesis pathway, and to an increase of the expression of the SPS encoding gene. Experiments with a mutant strain impaired in sucrose biosynthesis showed that sucrose is essential in stationary phase cells to overcome a later salt stress. Taken together, these results led us to suggest a more intricate function for sucrose than to be an osmoprotectant compound.

• Authors: Paula Desplats, Eduardo Folco, Graciela L Salerno
• Journal: Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB (Plant Physiol Biochem) Vol. 43 Issue 2 Pg. 133-8 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0981-9428 [Print] France
• PMID: 15820660 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sodium Chloride
• Sucrose
• Glucosyltransferases
• sucrose-phosphate synthase

Topics

• Glucosyltransferases (metabolism)
• Osmotic Pressure
• Sodium Chloride
• Sucrose (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Synechocystis (drug effects, enzymology, metabolism)