Sucrose transporter (SUT)

Sucrose transporters are membrane-bound proteins belonging to the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) and are crucial for the active transport of sucrose across plant cell membranes. They are responsible for the **allocation of sucrose**, the principal transportable carbon source in higher plants, from photosynthetic tissues (sources) to non-photosynthetic tissues (sinks)[3]. Sucrose transporters operate via a mechanism coupling proton influx and sucrose import, with conserved binding and regulatory features such as Asp152 (in the SUC1 example)[1]. Their function is vital for plant growth, productivity, and adaptation to stress, and they are regulated by protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications[2]. Sucrose transporters have a family of isoforms present across diverse plant species, reflecting gene family expansion for specialized functions in different tissues and developmental stages[3][4]. They are not relevant targets in human therapeutics but play essential roles in agriculture and plant biotechnology.

Other names

Sucrose carrier (SUC)SUT proteinDisaccharide transporter

Mediates proton-coupled symport of sucrose across biological membranes. Functions through direct coupling of sucrose binding to proton binding at a conserved site (Asp152 in SUC1). Regulated by post-translational modifications and protein–protein interactions.