Decoding the blueprint of sweetness in stevia

May 14, 2026

Key Glycosyltransferase Gene Clusters Revealed

A research group from the University of Toyama and Suntory Beverage & Food Limited, in collaboration with Kyoto Prefectural University, the RIKEN CSRS, and others, has successfully decoded the whole genome sequence (the genetic blueprint) of stevia, the plant that produces the natural sweet compounds known as steviol glycosides.

Based on this genomic information, the researchers identified which genes are expressed in specific leaf cells and clarified where sweet compounds are most abundant within the leaves. Furthermore, they discovered that differences in gene clusters encoding glycosyltransferases—enzymes responsible for adding sugar molecules—play a crucial role in generating variations in sweet compounds among different stevia lines, ultimately leading to differences in sweetness.

As concerns over the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake continue to grow, stevia-derived natural sweeteners are being widely used in the food industry. These findings provide an important foundation for the targeted control of sweet compound production in stevia.

 

Original article

New Phytologist　doi: 10.1111/nph.71191

T. Shoji, A. Fukushima, H. Morinaka, H. Takagi, Y. Nakashima, T. Mori, A. Kawamura, D. Shi, K. Torii, A. Iwase, N. Takeda-Kamiya, K. Toyooka, H. Morita, M. Y. Hirai, K. Sugimoto, K. Saito, T. Hirai,

"Multi-omics dissection of steviol glycoside synthesis reveals haplotype-linked specialization of UGT76G genes in Stevia rebaudiana".

Contact

Keiko Sugimoto; Team Director
Hatsune Morinaka; Research Scientist
Cell Function Research Team