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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and the Role of VcSWEET6 Related to Sugar Accumulation in Fruit Development

by
Jiaxin Liu
†,
Xuxin Jiang
†,
Lei Yang
,
Dongshuang Zhao
,
Yifei Wang
,
Yali Zhang
,
Haiyue Sun
,
Li Chen
* and
Yadong Li
*
Engineering Center of Genetic Breeding and Innovative Utilization of Small Fruits of Jilin Province, College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031055
Submission received: 19 December 2024 / Revised: 15 January 2025 / Accepted: 23 January 2025 / Published: 26 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Climate Resilience in Horticultural Crops Through Omics Technologies)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) are essential transmembrane proteins involved in plant growth, stress responses, and plant–pathogen interactions. Despite their importance, systematic studies on SWEETs in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are limited. Blueberries are recognized for their rapid growth and the significant impact of sugar content on fruit flavor, yet the role of the SWEET gene family in sugar accumulation during fruit development remains unclear. In this study, 23 SWEET genes were identified in blueberry, and their phylogenetic relationships, duplication events, gene structures, cis-regulatory elements, and expression profiles were systematically analyzed. The VcSWEET gene family was classified into four clades. Structural and motif analysis revealed conserved exon–intron organization within each clade. RT-qPCR analysis showed widespread expression of VcSWEETs across various tissues and developmental stages, correlating with promoter cis-elements. VcSWEET6a, in particular, was specifically expressed in fruit and showed reduced expression during fruit maturation. Subcellular localization indicated that VcSWEET6a is located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Functional assays in yeast confirmed its role in glucose and fructose uptake, with transport activity inhibited at higher sugar concentrations. Overexpression of VcSWEET6a in blueberries resulted in reduced sugar accumulation. These findings offer valuable insights into the role of VcSWEETs in blueberry sugar metabolism.
Keywords: blueberry; SWEET transporter; expression pattern; VcSWEET6; sugar accumulation blueberry; SWEET transporter; expression pattern; VcSWEET6; sugar accumulation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, J.; Jiang, X.; Yang, L.; Zhao, D.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Sun, H.; Chen, L.; Li, Y. Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and the Role of VcSWEET6 Related to Sugar Accumulation in Fruit Development. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 1055. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031055

AMA Style

Liu J, Jiang X, Yang L, Zhao D, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Sun H, Chen L, Li Y. Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and the Role of VcSWEET6 Related to Sugar Accumulation in Fruit Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(3):1055. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031055

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, Jiaxin, Xuxin Jiang, Lei Yang, Dongshuang Zhao, Yifei Wang, Yali Zhang, Haiyue Sun, Li Chen, and Yadong Li. 2025. "Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and the Role of VcSWEET6 Related to Sugar Accumulation in Fruit Development" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 3: 1055. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031055

APA Style

Liu, J., Jiang, X., Yang, L., Zhao, D., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Sun, H., Chen, L., & Li, Y. (2025). Characterization of the SWEET Gene Family in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and the Role of VcSWEET6 Related to Sugar Accumulation in Fruit Development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(3), 1055. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031055

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