Tonoplast Proton/Sugar Antiporter Proteins and Their Use for Increasing the Sucrose Concentration of a Sucrose Storage Organ of Plants

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This patent describes the identification, characterization, and use of specific plant tonoplast (vacuolar membrane) proton/sucrose antiporter proteins, especially BvTST2.1 from sugar beet, and the corresponding nucleic acids encoding them. The invention involves using these proteins or their genes to produce transgenic plants with increased sucrose concentration in sucrose-storage organs (such as roots or stems). This is achieved by enhancing the import of sucrose into vacuoles, thereby raising overall sucrose content and yield in important crop plants like sugar beet and sugar cane.

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• Developing genetically modified sugar beet, sugar cane, or other sucrose-storing crops with higher sugar content for industrial sugar production.
• Marker-assisted breeding or screening for plants naturally expressing higher levels of these antiporters for improved sucrose accumulation.
• Production of research tools such as oligonucleotide markers or diagnostic antibodies for detecting expression of sucrose transporters in crop improvement programs.
• Biotechnological applications for modifying carbohydrate partitioning and storage in various plant species to alter sweetness or energy density.

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• Increased sucrose yield per plant or per area, improving overall efficiency of sugar production from crops.
• Reduced need for land and cropping inputs to achieve the same or higher sugar output, benefiting the environment and economics.
• Specificity of the identified antiporters for sucrose means minimal metabolic disturbance and greater predictability of genetic modifications.
• Tools and methods for both genetic engineering and breeding, offering flexibility for plant improvement strategies.
• Potential for broader application to other crops and uses, including sweeteners, biofuels, and other carbohydrate-derived plant products.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to tonoplast proton/sugar antiporter proteins, more particularly tonoplast proton/saccharose antiporter proteins, the nucleotide sequences which encode them and uses thereof for producing transgenic plants with an increased saccharose concentration. The invention also includes methods for producing transgenic plants with an increased saccharose concentration, methods for increasing the saccharose concentration in plants, and for identifying plants which are suitable for creating a higher saccharose concentration.