GO:0005985 sucrose metabolic process: Signaling Hub, Genes, Functions and Research Methods
Research-grade guide for scientists and biopharma professionals
Key Takeaways
• GO:0005985 sucrose metabolic process describes the chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside.
• Sucrose is not only a transport sugar but also a signaling molecule that communicates metabolic demand to transporters and regulates gene expression in plants.
• Key genes include sucrose transporters (SUT/SUC), sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SUS), invertases (INV), and hexokinases (HXK).
• In yeast and bacteria, sucrose metabolism supports fermentation and biopolymer production, with sucrose phosphorylase enabling polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis from sucrose.
• Dysregulation of sucrose metabolism impacts human health through dietary sucrose and microbial fermentation, linking to dental caries, obesity, and metabolic disorders.
• CRISPR knockout, knock-in, and overexpression models are essential to dissect causal roles of sucrose metabolic genes in plants, microbes, and human cells.
Description
Sucrose metabolic process (GO:0005985) encompasses the chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside. This process is fundamental to carbon allocation in photosynthetic organisms, where sucrose serves as the primary transport sugar and a signaling molecule that coordinates growth, development, and stress responses. In plants, sucrose is synthesized in source tissues and transported to sink tissues, where it is cleaved by invertases or sucrose synthase to provide carbon and energy. Beyond plants, sucrose metabolism is exploited by microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae for fermentation and by engineered bacteria for biopolymer production. Understanding the regulation and components of sucrose metabolic process is therefore critical for agriculture, biotechnology, and human nutrition research.
sucrose metabolic process At A Glance
| GO ID | GO:0005985 |
|---|---|
| GO term | sucrose metabolic process |
| Ontology | biological_process |
| Synonym | sucrose metabolism |
| Definition | The chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside. |
| Major function | Synthesis, transport, cleavage, and signaling of sucrose in carbon allocation and energy metabolism. |
| Key enzymes | Sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SUS), invertases (INV), hexokinases (HXK). |
| Key transporters | SUT/SUC family sucrose transporters. |
| Organisms | Plants, yeast, bacteria, and engineered microbial systems. |
What Is GO:0005985?
Sucrose metabolic process (GO:0005985) is defined as the chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside. This includes the biosynthesis of sucrose from UDP-glucose and fructose-6-phosphate, its transport across membranes, and its cleavage into glucose and fructose by invertases or into UDP-glucose and fructose by sucrose synthase. The term also covers signaling events triggered by sucrose itself, which can modulate gene expression and transporter activity.
Why Is sucrose metabolic process Important in Cell Biology?
Sucrose metabolic process is central to plant productivity, microbial fermentation, and human nutrition. In plants, sucrose is the major transport sugar and a signaling molecule that communicates metabolic demand to sucrose transporters, influencing seed filling and stress tolerance. In yeast, sucrose metabolism supports fermentation and industrial applications. In bacteria, engineered sucrose phosphorylase pathways enable polyhydroxybutyrate production from sucrose, highlighting biotechnological relevance. Dysregulation of sucrose metabolism in humans, particularly through dietary sucrose and oral microbial fermentation, contributes to dental caries and metabolic disorders.
• Sucrose is the primary transport sugar in most plants, essential for carbon allocation from source to sink tissues.
• Sucrose acts as a signaling molecule that regulates gene expression and transporter activity in response to metabolic demand.
• Sucrose metabolism in guard cells influences stomatal aperture and plant water relations.
• In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sucrose fermentation is a cornerstone of industrial biotechnology.
• Engineered bacteria can convert sucrose to polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic, via sucrose phosphorylase.
• Dietary sucrose is a major substrate for oral bacteria, contributing to dental caries.
• Sucrose metabolism intersects with human metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes through dietary intake.
• Understanding sucrose metabolic genes aids crop improvement for yield and stress resilience.
• Sucrose transporters are targets for enhancing phloem loading and seed filling.
• Microbial sucrose metabolism is exploited for producing value-added compounds.
What Happens During sucrose metabolic process?
Sucrose Biosynthesis
In simple terms: Plants make sucrose by combining two simpler sugars.
Sucrose is synthesized primarily in the cytosol of photosynthetic tissues via sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose-phosphate phosphatase, using UDP-glucose and fructose-6-phosphate as substrates. This pathway is regulated by light and metabolic signals, and the resulting sucrose is either stored or exported to sink tissues.
Sucrose Transport
In simple terms: Sucrose moves through the plant via specialized transporter proteins.
Sucrose transporters of the SUT/SUC family mediate proton-coupled sucrose uptake into phloem cells for long-distance transport. In developing pea cotyledons, intracellular sucrose communicates metabolic demand to these transporters, adjusting their activity to match sink strength. Sugarcane ShSUT1 is a well-characterized transporter whose activity is inhibited by sucralose.
Sucrose Cleavage
In simple terms: Sucrose is broken down to provide energy and carbon building blocks.
Sucrose is cleaved by invertases into glucose and fructose, or by sucrose synthase into UDP-glucose and fructose. These reactions occur in different cellular compartments and are critical for supplying carbon to sink tissues and for generating signaling molecules.
Sucrose Signaling
In simple terms: Sucrose itself acts as a signal to control plant growth and metabolism.
Sucrose signaling modulates gene expression, transporter activity, and hormone pathways. In guard cells, sucrose regulates stomatal aperture, linking carbon status to water loss. Intracellular sucrose levels communicate metabolic demand to sucrose transporters, ensuring balanced carbon allocation.
Microbial Sucrose Metabolism
In simple terms: Yeast and bacteria use sucrose for fermentation and production of useful compounds.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments sucrose via invertase and hexose transporters, a process central to baking and brewing. Engineered Cupriavidus necator expressing sucrose phosphorylase can convert sucrose to polyhydroxybutyrate, demonstrating metabolic engineering potential.
Key Genes Involved in GO:0005985 sucrose metabolic process
The following genes and proteins are central to sucrose metabolic process across plants, yeast, and bacteria.
| Gene | Major Role | Research Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| SPS (sucrose-phosphate synthase) | Catalyzes sucrose biosynthesis | Target for enhancing carbon fixation and yield |
| SUS (sucrose synthase) | Cleaves sucrose to UDP-glucose and fructose | Key for sink strength and cellulose synthesis |
| INV (invertase) | Hydrolyzes sucrose to glucose and fructose | Regulates sugar signaling and stress responses |
| HXK (hexokinase) | Phosphorylates glucose/fructose from sucrose | Sugar sensor in plants and yeast |
| SUT1/SUC2 (sucrose transporter) | Mediates phloem loading and transport | Determines source-sink allocation |
| ShSUT1 | Sugarcane sucrose transporter | Model for transport inhibition by sucralose |
| SUC2 (Arabidopsis) | Phloem loading transporter | Genetic studies of carbon allocation |
| Sucrose phosphorylase | Converts sucrose to glucose-1-phosphate | Engineered for biopolymer production |
| SUC2 (yeast) | Sucrose utilization in yeast | Fermentation and industrial biotechnology |
| Maltase-glucoamylase | Intestinal sucrose digestion | Dietary sucrose metabolism in humans |
| Sucrase-isomaltase | Brush-border sucrose hydrolysis | Human sucrose digestion and deficiency |
| Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase | Sucrose signaling interactor | Links sucrose to growth regulation |
| SnRK1 | Energy sensor kinase | Mediates sucrose signaling in plants |
| bZIP transcription factors | Regulate sucrose-responsive genes | Transcriptional control of sucrose metabolism |
| Sucrose transporter (OsSUT1) | Rice phloem loading | Crop yield and grain filling |
| Cell wall invertase | Cleaves sucrose in apoplast | Seed development and stress |
| Vacuolar invertase | Stores and cleaves sucrose | Sugar accumulation in fruits |
How Is sucrose metabolic process Regulated?
Sucrose metabolic process is regulated at multiple levels. In plants, sucrose itself acts as a signal that modulates the expression of sucrose transporters and metabolic enzymes, ensuring that carbon allocation matches metabolic demand. The energy sensor SnRK1 and trehalose-6-phosphate signaling integrate sucrose status with growth and stress responses. In guard cells, sucrose levels regulate stomatal aperture through osmotic and signaling mechanisms. In yeast, sucrose metabolism is controlled by glucose sensing and catabolite repression pathways. In engineered bacteria, heterologous sucrose phosphorylase expression is regulated by inducible promoters to optimize polyhydroxybutyrate production.
sucrose metabolic process and Human Disease
| Gene | Disease / Biology | Potential Experimental Model |
|---|---|---|
| Sucrase-isomaltase | Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency | Knockout intestinal cell lines (Caco-2) |
| Maltase-glucoamylase | Starch/sucrose digestion disorders | Point-mutation knock-in in HEK293 |
| Oral bacterial invertases | Dental caries | Knockout Streptococcus mutans |
| Yeast SUC2 | Fungal fermentation and virulence | Overexpression in S. cerevisiae |
| Human GLUT5 | Fructose absorption from sucrose | Knock-in reporter in intestinal organoids |
Dental Caries and Oral Health
Dietary sucrose is a primary substrate for cariogenic oral bacteria, which ferment it into acids that demineralize tooth enamel. The sucrose metabolic process in oral biofilms is therefore directly linked to dental caries development.
Metabolic Disorders
High dietary sucrose intake contributes to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes through excessive calorie consumption and fructose-mediated lipogenesis. Human intestinal sucrose digestion by sucrase-isomaltase is a key step in sucrose metabolism, and its dysfunction leads to congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.
Microbial Infections
Sucrose metabolism in pathogenic microorganisms can influence virulence and colonization. For example, yeast sucrose fermentation pathways are exploited in industrial settings but also inform understanding of fungal metabolic adaptability.
From sucrose metabolic process-Related Genes to Experimental Models
| Research Question | Suitable Model |
|---|---|
| Does SPS gene knockout reduce sucrose biosynthesis? | CRISPR knockout in Arabidopsis |
| How does point mutation in SUT1 affect transport activity? | Point-mutation knock-in in yeast or plant protoplasts |
| Does overexpression of sucrose phosphorylase enhance PHB production? | Overexpression in Cupriavidus necator |
| What is the role of sucrose signaling in guard cells? | Knockout of HXK in guard cell-specific promoters |
| How does sucrose transporter tagging affect localization? | Tagged knock-in of SUC2 in Arabidopsis |
| Can CRISPR library screening identify novel sucrose metabolic regulators? | Genome-wide CRISPR library in plant or yeast cells |
How to Study the sucrose metabolic process Process
| Method | What It Measures | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| RNA-seq | Gene expression changes | Identify sucrose-responsive genes |
| LC-MS metabolomics | Sucrose, glucose, fructose levels | Quantify metabolic flux |
| Radiolabeled uptake assay | Sucrose transport activity | Characterize SUT transporters |
| CRISPR knockout screening | Gene essentiality for sucrose metabolism | Discover novel regulators |
| Enzyme activity assays | Invertase, SUS, SPS activity | Measure metabolic enzyme function |
| Yeast complementation | Functional rescue of sucrose utilization | Test plant transporter function |
| qRT-PCR | Transcript levels of key genes | Validate RNA-seq data |
| Western blot | Protein abundance and modification | Assess transporter or enzyme levels |
Transcriptomics and RNA-seq
RNA sequencing can quantify expression of sucrose metabolic genes such as SPS, SUS, and SUT under different conditions, revealing transcriptional regulation.
Metabolomics and Sugar Profiling
LC-MS and GC-MS measure sucrose, glucose, and fructose levels to assess metabolic flux and enzyme activity.
Transport Assays
Heterologous expression in yeast or Xenopus oocytes coupled with radiolabeled sucrose uptake assays characterizes transporter kinetics and inhibition, as shown for ShSUT1.
CRISPR Screening and Bioinformatics
Genome-wide CRISPR knockout libraries combined with next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics identify genes required for sucrose metabolism and signaling.
How CRISPR Can Be Used to Study GO:0005985 sucrose metabolic process
Knockout
CRISPR knockout of sucrose metabolic genes such as SPS, SUS, or SUT can reveal their essential roles in plant growth, yeast fermentation, or microbial biopolymer production. For example, knocking out SUC2 in yeast abolishes sucrose fermentation.
Point Mutation
Point mutations introduced by CRISPR base editing or HDR can mimic naturally occurring variants in sucrose transporters or enzymes, enabling structure-function studies and disease modeling.
Knock-in
Knock-in of tagged versions of sucrose transporters (e.g., GFP-SUT1) allows live-cell imaging of localization and trafficking, as demonstrated for sugarcane ShSUT1.
Overexpression
Overexpression of sucrose phosphorylase or sucrose transporters can enhance sucrose utilization and product formation, as shown in engineered Cupriavidus necator for polyhydroxybutyrate production.
How EDITGENE Supports sucrose metabolic process Research
Researchers studying sucrose metabolic process-related genes often need to determine whether a candidate gene is causally involved in sucrose synthesis, transport, or signaling. EDITGENE provides comprehensive CRISPR services to generate precise cellular and animal models for such investigations.
Contact EDITGENE today to design your custom CRISPR model for sucrose metabolic process research.
Frequently Asked Questions About sucrose metabolic process
What is sucrose metabolic process GO:0005985?
It is the biological process comprising the chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside.
What genes are involved in sucrose metabolic process?
Key genes include SPS, SUS, invertases, SUT/SUC transporters, hexokinases, and sucrose phosphorylase.
How is sucrose metabolized in plants?
Sucrose is synthesized by SPS, transported by SUT proteins, and cleaved by invertases or sucrose synthase to supply carbon and energy.
What is the role of sucrose signaling in plants?
Sucrose acts as a signal that communicates metabolic demand to transporters and regulates gene expression, influencing growth and stress responses.
How do yeast metabolize sucrose?
Saccharomyces cerevisiae hydrolyzes sucrose via invertase and then ferments the resulting hexoses, a process central to industrial biotechnology.
Can bacteria be engineered to produce plastics from sucrose?
Yes, Cupriavidus necator expressing sucrose phosphorylase can convert sucrose to polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic.
What diseases are linked to sucrose metabolism?
Dental caries and metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes are linked to dietary sucrose and its microbial fermentation.
How can CRISPR be used to study sucrose metabolic process?
CRISPR knockout, knock-in, point mutation, and overexpression models allow causal testing of sucrose metabolic genes in various organisms.
What methods are used to study sucrose metabolism?
RNA-seq, metabolomics, transport assays, enzyme activity assays, and CRISPR screening are commonly used.
What is the definition of sucrose metabolic process according to QuickGO?
The chemical reactions and pathways involving sucrose, the disaccharide fructofuranosyl-glucopyranoside.
Conclusion
Sucrose metabolic process (GO:0005985) is a fundamental biological process that spans plants, yeast, and bacteria, with critical roles in carbon allocation, signaling, and biotechnology. Understanding its genes and regulation offers insights into crop improvement, industrial fermentation, and human health. EDITGENE provides advanced CRISPR tools to dissect this process with precision.
References
- 1. Fewkes DW et al.. 1971. Sucrose.. Sci Prog 59(233):25-39 PMID: 4942200
- 2. Yoon J et al.. 2021. Sucrose signaling in higher plants.. Plant Sci 302:110703 PMID: 33288016
- 3. Zhou Y et al.. 2009. Intracellular sucrose communicates metabolic demand to sucrose transporters in developing pea cotyledons.. J Exp Bot 60(1):71-85 PMID: 18931350
- 4. Khonde V et al.. 2025. Metabolic engineering of Cupriavidus necator using sucrose phosphorylase pathway for polyhydroxybutyrate production from sucrose.. J Biotechnol 407:22-30 PMID: 40769461
- 5. Kühn C et al.. 2010. Sucrose transporters of higher plants.. Curr Opin Plant Biol 13(3):288-98 PMID: 20303321
- 6. Reinders A et al.. 2006. Sugarcane ShSUT1: analysis of sucrose transport activity and inhibition by sucralose.. Plant Cell Environ 29(10):1871-80 PMID: 16930313
- 7. Daloso DM et al.. 2016. Roles of sucrose in guard cell regulation.. New Phytol 211(3):809-18 PMID: 27060199
- 8. Marques WL et al.. 2016. Sucrose and Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a relationship most sweet.. FEMS Yeast Res 16(1):fov107 PMID: 26658003
