SUC1 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OsSUC1 (also known as SUT2, SUT4, and SUC1) on rice chromosome 12 encodes a protein belonging to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) and the sucrose symporter family. It is associated with sucrose:proton symporter activity, maltose:proton symporter activity, and sugar transmembrane transporter activity. The gene has been linked to phloem sucrose loading, glucoside transport, and carbohydrate membrane transport. In rice, it is connected to grain number, grain-filling, panicle development, lateral root formation, and sugar content. Associations also include grain yield, starch content, floury endosperm, photosynthetic ability, harvest index, tiller number, days to flowering, salt response, and auxin sensitivity. The protein localizes to the tonoplast, chloroplast outer membrane, and pollen tube. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to phloem loading, carbon partitioning, seed development, and abiotic stress tolerance.