MATE Transporter Facilitates Bitter Saponin Transport From Cytoplasm to Vacuole

May 09, 2024

By Zhang Nannan

Domestic soybeans serve as an important source of healthy edible plant oil and high-quality plant protein in our food culture. In addition to the well-known components of oil (approximately 20%), protein (approximately 40%), and carbohydrates (approximately 30%), soybean seeds also contain a range of specialized metabolites that promote human health. For example, soyasaponins, which make up 0.5–6.5% of the seed, and isoflavonoids, which make up 0.01–0.5%, are critical for promoting human health.

A research team led by Dr. Wang Guodong from Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) used gene co-expression analysis to identify GmMATE100 as a candidate gene for soyasaponin transport among 117 members of the Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion (MATE) transporter family in the soybean genome.

The study, titled "GmMATE100 is involved in the import of soyasaponins A and B into vacuoles in soybean plants (Glycine max L.)," was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on April 22.

Subcellular localization experiments showed that GmMATE100 is localized to the vacuolar membrane in both plant and yeast cells. In vitro yeast transport assays revealed that GmMATE100 has activity in transporting both type A and type B soyasaponins, but is unable to transport the soyasaponin precursor, soyasapogenol.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.