A mitochondrial alkaline/neutral invertase isoform (A/N-InvC) functions in developmental energy-demanding processes in Arabidopsis.

Recent findings demonstrate that alkaline/neutral invertases (A/N-Invs), enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of sucrose into glucose and fructose, are essential proteins in plant life. The fact that different isoforms are present in multiple locations makes them candidates for the coordination of metabolic processes. In the present study, we functionally characterized the encoding gene of a novel A/N-Inv (named A/N-InvC) from Arabidopsis, which localizes in mitochondria.

Sucrose synthase in unicellular cyanobacteria and its relationship with salt and hypoxic stress.

Higher plants and cyanobacteria metabolize sucrose (Suc) by a similar set of enzymes. Suc synthase (SuS, A/UDP-glucose: D: -fructose 2-α-D: -glucosyl transferase) catalyzes a reversible reaction. However, it is in the cleavage of Suc that this enzyme plays an important role in vivo, providing sugar nucleotides for polysaccharide biosynthesis.