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Demonstration of an intramitochondrial invertase activity and the corresponding sugar transporters of the inner mitochondrial membrane in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers

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Abstract

Genetic evidences indicate that alkaline/neutral invertases are present in plant cell organelles, and they might have a novel physiological function in mitochondria. The present study demonstrates an invertase activity in the mitochondrial matrix of Helianthus tuberosus tubers. The pH optimum, the kinetic parameters and the inhibitor profile of the invertase activity indicated that it belongs to the neutral invertases. In accordance with this topology, transport activities responsible for the mediation of influx/efflux of substrate/products were studied in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The transport of sucrose, glucose and fructose was shown to be bidirectional, saturable and independent of the mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential. Sucrose transport was insensitive to the inhibitors of the proton-sucrose symporters. The different kinetic parameters and inhibitors as well as the absence of cross-inhibition suggest that sucrose, glucose and fructose transport are mediated by separate transporters in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The mitochondrial invertase system composed by an enzyme activity in the matrix and the corresponding sugar transporters might have a role in both osmoregulation and intermediary metabolism.

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Abbreviations

Tris:

2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol

MOPS:

Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid

JAM:

Jerusalem artichoke mitochondria

DEPC:

Diethylpyrocarbonate

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by a Hungarian-Flemish Bilateral Intergovernmental S&T grant (B/30/04), and by National Scientific Research Fund grants (OTKA F46743 and 64215).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rakpart 3, 1111, Budapest, Hungary

    András Szarka, Ákos Tarcsay, Ferenc Örsi & András Salgó

  2. Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Pathobiochemistry Research Group of The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 260, 1444, Budapest, Hungary

    András Szarka & Gábor Bánhegyi

  3. Research Group of Plant Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Nele Horemans

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze per la Salute, Università del Molise, Via De Sanctis, 86100, Campobasso, Italy

    Salvatore Passarella

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  1. András Szarka
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  2. Nele Horemans
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  3. Salvatore Passarella
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  7. Gábor Bánhegyi
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Correspondence to András Szarka.

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Szarka, A., Horemans, N., Passarella, S. et al. Demonstration of an intramitochondrial invertase activity and the corresponding sugar transporters of the inner mitochondrial membrane in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers. Planta 228, 765–775 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0778-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0778-1

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