Sugar transport in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Abstract

In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, there is a reciprocal nutrient exchange, mainly sugar and phosphate, between partners. Transport of phosphate from fungus to plant has been well characterized, and this aspect of AM symbiosis has been reviewed. This mini-review is specifically devoted to sugar transport from plant to fungus in AM symbiosis and discusses the possible links between sugar transporters and AM-inducible inorganic phosphate (Pi) transporters and plasma membrane proton-ATPases in the arbuscule-cortical cell interface. Exploring the sugar transport mechanisms could further contribute to our understanding of nutrient exchange between the two symbiotic partners. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, sugar flux, sugar transporter, phosphate transporter, plasma membrane, H+-ATPase