The ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of flavonoid transport

The sites of plant flavonoid biosynthesis, storage and final function often differ at the subcellular, cell, and even tissue and organ levels. Efficient transport systems for flavonoids across endomembranes and the plasma membrane are therefore required. However, a clear picture of the dynamic trafficking of flavonoids is only now beginning to emerge and appears to have many players. Here, we review current hypotheses for flavonoid transport, discuss whether these are mutually exclusive, highlight the importance of flavonoid efflux from vacuoles to the cytosol and consider future efforts to catch flavonoids ‘in the act’ of moving within and between cells. An improved understanding of transport mechanisms will facilitate the successful metabolic engineering of flavonoids for plant protection and human health.