Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate: a traffic signal in plant metabolism

• Published in: Trends in plant science 2004-11, Vol.9 (11), p.556-563
• Main Authors: Nielsen, Tom Hamborg, Rung, Jesper Henrik, Villadsen, Dorthe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-phosphofructokinase; biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; carbohydrate metabolism; Cell physiology; enzyme activity; fructose-2,6-bisphosphate; fructose-bisphosphatase; Fructosediphosphates - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; isozymes; literature reviews; Molecular and cellular biology; Phosphofructokinase-2 - metabolism; phosphoric monoester hydrolases; Phylogeny; plant physiology; plant response; plant stress; Plants - enzymology; Plants - genetics; Plants - metabolism; pyrophosphate-fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase; Signal Transduction
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2004.09.004

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P 2) regulates key reactions of the primary carbohydrate metabolism in all eukaryotes. In plants, Fru-2,6-P 2 coordinates the photosynthetic carbon flux into sucrose and starch biosynthesis. The use of transgenic plants has allowed the regulatory models to be tested by modifying the Fru-2,6-P 2 levels and the enzymes regulated by Fru-2,6-P 2. Genes for the bifunctional plant enzyme that synthesizes and degrades Fru-2,6-P 2 have been isolated and molecular characterization has provided new insight into structure and molecular regulation of the enzyme. Advances in Fru-2,6-P 2 physiology and molecular biology are discussed. These advances have not only enlightened in vivo operation of Fru-2,6-P 2 but also revealed that the Fru-2,6-P 2 regulatory system is highly complex and interacts with other regulatory mechanisms.