Illuminating the Translocation Stream

Kirsten Knox, Karl Oparka

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

This review focuses on the recent development of a suite of fluorescent probes that can be used to trace phloem-transport rates in a range of diverse species. Some of these probes are loaded into the phloem by virtue of optimal physico-chemical properties for ion trapping in the high pH environment of the sieve element. However, others are clearly loaded by carrier-mediated transport, such as the blue-emitting probe, esculin, which is loaded into the Arabidopsis phloem by the sucrose transporter, AtSUC2, allowing it to be used as a surrogate for sucrose in phloem transport studies. We also describe additional chemical groups which, although highly charged (e.g. sulphonates), facilitate entry into the phloem. The addition of such 'mobilophores' to existing chemical groups has allowed us to expand the range of fluorophores that can be loaded into the phloem, and provides clues as to the nature of selectivity for phloem loading of xenobiotic compounds.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)113-118
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent opinion in plant biology
Volume43
Early online date2 May 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2018

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