Abstract:
Sucrose transporters (SUTs) play a crucial role in the distribution of photoassimilated
carbon in the form of sucrose throughout plants. In order to understand carbohydrate
partitioning in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), we focused on SUT genes. This research
aims to identify cDNAs encoding SUTs and investigate their gene expression patterns in
cassava. We took an initial step by screening both storage root and leaf cDNA libraries for
cDNA encoding SUT type 1, 2 and 4. A MeSUT2 cDNA was identified in the leaf cDNA
library, whereas MeSUT1, MeSUT4-1 and MeSUT4-2 cDNAs were isolated from storage root
cDNA library. The translated amino acid sequences of MeSUT1, MeSUT2, MeSUT4-1 and
MeSUT4-2 showed the highest similarity to Ricinus communis RcScr1 (82%), Citrus sinensis
CsSUT2 (74%), and Ricinus communis RcSUC4 (84% and 86%), respectively. The translated
peptides of all four MeSUT cDNAs were composed of twelve transmembrane spanning
domains. The conserved motifs for sugar transporters and conserved histidine residues, related
to sucrose binding in the transport process, existed in all MeSUT peptides. Therefore, all
MeSUT cDNAs may encode functional SUT proteins. Genomic Southern analysis using the
cDNA fragments unique to MeSUT1, MeSUT2 and MeSUT4 as probes indicated the presence
of more than one copy of each gene in the cassava genome. Semi-quantitative reverse
transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results indicated the expressions of all four
MeSUT cDNAs in both source and sink organs of cassava. In developing leaves, the
expressions of MeSUT genes were correlated to leaf functional characteristics. In different
layers of storage roots, the expressions of MeSUT1 and MeSUT4-2 genes were higher in the
cortex containing phloem than in the parenchyma layers accumulating starch. On the other
hand the expression levels of MeSUT2 and MeSUT4-1 genes were equal in all layers. During
cassava development, the expression of MeSUT2 gene in storage roots was equally expressed,
whereas the expression levels of MeSUT1, MeSUT4-1 and MeSUT4-2 genes varied depending
on the time of harvesting. Rainfall may be one parameter affecting the expression of MeSUT
gene