Bridging sugar metabolism and signaling with hormones in shoot branching regulation
Abstract
Shoot branching, a major determinant of plant architecture and productivity, has long been attributed to the coordinated action of auxin, cytokinins (CKs), and strigolactones (SLs).Recent work shows that sugars act not only as metabolic resources but also as early developmental signals that regulate axillary bud outgrowth, the initial step in shoot branching. Sugar availability can rapidly trigger bud outgrowth, often preceding major hormonal changes. Mechanistically, sugars antagonize auxin and SL signaling while acting synergistically with CKs. These effects involve sugar signaling pathways mediated by trehalose 6phosphate (Tre6P) and HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1), as well as metabolic reprogramming of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). The transcription factor BRANCHED1/TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (BRC1/TB1) participates in this regulatory network by integrating specific sugar and hormonal inputs involved in the control of the transition between bud dormancy and bud outgrowth. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on the interplay between sugar metabolism, sugar signaling, and hormonal pathways in regulating bud fate and highlight key questions that will shape future research in this field.
Related
- Sugar metabolism drives shoot branching by repressing BRC1 through miR319-targeted TCP4 in Rosa.
- Sugar metabolism drives shoot branching by repressing BRC1 through miR319-targeted TCP4 in Rosa.
- Netrin signaling shapes sexually dimorphic neurite branching of a sex-shared interneuron in C. elegans
- Lactate metabolism and lactylation in uveal melanoma: from metabolic adaptation to immune regulation
- Selection signatures in Apis mellifera jemenitica suggest candidate genes potentially involved in energy metabolism, proteostasis, reproduction, and cellular regulation
BibTeX
@article{sakr2026bridging,
title = {{Bridging sugar metabolism and signaling with hormones in shoot branching regulation}},
author = {Soulaiman Sakr and Philippe Grappin and José Le Gourrierec and Michael Nicolas},
journal = {Current Opinion in Plant Biology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2026.102958},
url = {https://institut-agro-rennes-angers.hal.science/hal-05738321v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bridging sugar metabolism and signaling with hormones in shoot branching regulation
AU - Soulaiman Sakr
AU - Philippe Grappin
AU - José Le Gourrierec
AU - Michael Nicolas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/04
JO - Current Opinion in Plant Biology
DO - 10.1016/j.pbi.2026.102958
UR - https://institut-agro-rennes-angers.hal.science/hal-05738321v1
AB - Shoot branching, a major determinant of plant architecture and productivity, has long been attributed to the coordinated action of auxin, cytokinins (CKs), and strigolactones (SLs).Recent work shows that sugars act not only as metabolic resources but also as early developmental signals that regulate axillary bud outgrowth, the initial step in shoot branching. Sugar availability can rapidly trigger bud outgrowth, often preceding major hormonal changes. Mechanistically, sugars antagonize auxin and SL signaling while acting synergistically with CKs. These effects involve sugar signaling pathways mediated by trehalose 6phosphate (Tre6P) and HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1), as well as metabolic reprogramming of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). The transcription factor BRANCHED1/TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (BRC1/TB1) participates in this regulatory network by integrating specific sugar and hormonal inputs involved in the control of the transition between bud dormancy and bud outgrowth. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on the interplay between sugar metabolism, sugar signaling, and hormonal pathways in regulating bud fate and highlight key questions that will shape future research in this field.
SN - 1369-5266
SN - 1879-0356
ER -