Tomato Fruit Development and Ripening Are Altered by the Silencing of LeEIN2 Gene

Loss-of-function ethylene insensitive 2 （EIN2） mutations showed ethylene insensitivity in Arabidopsis, which indicated an essential role of EIN2 in ethylene signaling. However, the function of EIN2 in fruit ripening has not been investigated. To gain a better understanding of EIN2, the temporal regulation of LeEIN2 expres- sion during tomato fruit development was analyzed. The expression of LeEIN2 was constant at different stages of fruit development, and was not regulated by ethylene. Moreover, LeEIN2-silenced tomato fruits were developed using a virus-induced gene silencing fruit system to study the role of LeEIN2 in tomato fruit ripening. Silenced fruits had a delay in fruit development and ripening, related to greatly descended expression of ethylene-related and ripening-related genes in comparison with those of control fruits. These results suggested LeEIN2 positively mediated ethylene signals during tomato development. In addition, there were fewer seeds and Iocules in the silenced fruit than those in the control fruit, like the phenotype of parthenocarpic tomato fruit. The content of auxin and the expression of auxin-regulated gene were declined in silenced fruit, which indicated that EIN2 might be important for crosstalk between ethylene and auxin hormones.     

Deciphering Ascorbic Acid Regulatory Pathways in Ripening Tomato Fruit Using a Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis Approach

Genotype is generally determined by the co-expression of diverse genes and multiple regulatory pathways in plants. Gene co-expression analysis combining with physiological trait data provides very important information about the gene function and regulatory mechanism. L-Ascorbic acid （AsA）, which is an essential nutrient component for human health and plant metabolism, plays key roles in diverse biological processes such as cell cycle, cell expansion, stress resistance, hormone synthesis, and signaling. Here, we applied a weighted gene correlation network analysis approach based on gene expression values and AsA content data in ripening tomato （Solanum lycopersicum L.） fruit with different AsA content levels, which leads to identification of AsA relevant modules and vital genes in AsA regulatory pathways. Twenty- four modules were compartmentalized according to gene expression profiling. Among these modules, one negatively related module containing genes involved in redox processes and one positively related module enriched with genes involved in AsA biosynthetic and recycling pathways were further analyzed. The present work herein indicates that redox pathways as well as hormone-signal pathways are closely correlated with AsA accumulation in ripening tomato fruit, and allowed us to prioritize candidate genes for follow-up studies to dissect this interplay at the biochemical and molecular level.     

Characterization of an ethylene receptor homolog gene from rice

Ethylene is a gaseous hormone and plays important roles in plant growth and development, including seed germination, root hair development, flowering, pollination, abscission, and fruit ripening[1]. It is also involved in plant responses to biotic stress such as pathogen attack, and abiotic stresses such as wounding, drought and freezing[1]. Mutational and genetic analysis of Arabidopsis has led to the identification of five ethylene receptor genes, i.e. ETR1, ERS1, ETR2, EIN4 and ERS2. …     

Cleavage of the Carboxyl-Terminus of LEACS2, a Tomato 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Synthase Isomer, by a 64-kDa Tomato Metalloprotease Produces a Truncated but Active Enzyme

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid （ACC） synthase （ACS） is the principal enzyme in phytohormone ethylene biosynthesis. Previous studies have shown that the hypervariable C-terminus of ACS is proteolytically processed in vivo. However, the protease responsible for this has not yet been identified. In the present study, we investigated the processing of the 55-kDa full-length tomato ACS （LeACS2） into 52-, 50- and 49-kDa truncated isoforms in ripening tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Cooperation 903） fruit using the sodium dodecyl sulfate-boiling method. Meanwhile, an LeACS2-processing protease was purified via multi-step column chromatography from tomato fruit. Subsequent biochemical analysis of the 64-kDa purified protease revealed that it is a metalloprotease active at multiple cleavage sites within the hypervariable C-terminus of LeACS2. N-terminal sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis indicated that the LeACS2-processing metalloprotease cleaves at the C-terminal sites Lys^438, Glu^447, Lys^448, Asn^456, Ser^460, Ser^462, Lys^463, and Leu^474, but does not cleave the N- terminus of LeACS2. Four C-terminus-deleted （26-50 amino acids） LeACS2 fusion proteins were overproduced and subjected to proteolysis by this metalloprotease to identify the multiple cleavage sites located on the N-terminal side of the phosphorylation site Ser^460. The results indisputably confirmed the presence of cleavage sites within the region between the α-helix domain （H14） and Ser^460 for this metalloprotease. Furthermore, the resulting C-terminally truncated LeACS2 isoforms were active enzymatically. Because this protease could produce LeACS2 isoforms in vitro similar to those detected in vivo, it is proposed that this metalloprotease may be involved in the proteolysis of LeACS2 in vivo.     

Isolation of a Tomato Protease that May Be Involved in Proteolysis of 1-Aminocyclopropane-l-Carboxylate Synthase

1-aminocyclopropane- 1-carboxylate （ACC） synthase is a principal enzyme that catalyses the committed step in phytohormone ethylene biosynthesis. Previous evidence indicates that the hypervariable C-terminus of ACC synthase is most likely to be processed proteolytically in vivo. However, the protease responsible has not been identified thus far. In the present study, we detected proteolytic activity against ACC synthase （LeACS2） in tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.） fruit extract based on a newly established in vitro assay system. Purification of the protease through DEAE, gel filtration and MonoQ chromatography resulted in considerable enrichment of a 64-kDa protein species. Subsequent biochemical analysis of the purified tomato protease revealed that the optimal conditions for its proteolytic activity were at pH 8.0 and at 37 ~C. In addition, the protease activity was blocked completely by the metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline. The present study represents the first report on the isolation of an ACC synthase- processing protease from plant tissues.     

中华猕猴桃品种'Hort16A'的果实发育特征

To explore the fruit development characteristics of Actinidia chinensis'Hort16A' , fruit shape indexes during 2-154 d after anthesis, contents of soluble sugar and titratable acid in fruit during 30-154 d after anthesis, and contents of organic acid components in fruit during 44-147 d after anthesis were analyzed. The results show that fruit of 'Hort16A' grows rapidly during 30-44 and 58-72 d after anthesis. Content of soluble solid in fruit during 100-140 d after anthesis is slightly higher than that during 2-93 d after anthesis, and increases rapidly during 147-154 d after anthesis. Fruit firmness decreases rapidly during 147-154 d after anthesis. In general, during 30-154 d after anthesis, content of soluble sugar in fruit increases gradually, while content of titratable acid decreases firstly, then increases, and decreases again. In the fruit, tartaric acid is not detected, content of quininic acid is the highest, contents of malic acid and citric acid are higher, and contents of succinic acid and fumaric acid are very low. Total content of organic acids increases firstly and then decreases, and reaches the highest value at 140 d after anthesis. It is suggested that in order to improve fruit quality of'Hort16A' , its cultivation and management plans will be set up based on fruit development characteristics.     

Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 in the Asian Yellow Pond Turtle Mauremys mutica

Matrix metallopeptidase 3 is a zinc-containing proteinase that participates in tissue remodeling and immune responses. In this study, a cDNA encoding matrix metallopeptidase 3 was isolated and characterized from the Asian yellow pond turtle Mauremys mutica（designated as MaMMP3）. The MaMMP3 cDNA is 1805 bp and consists of a 5＇-untranslated region（UTR） of 56 bp, a 3＇-UTR of 243 bp, and an open reading frame（ORF） of 1506 bp encoding 481 amino acids. Homology analysis of MaMMP3 revealed that the MaMMP3 shared 25%–63% similarity to other known MMP3 sequences. The genomic sequence covers 6007 bp. Comparative analysis of the cDNA sequence revealed that the Asian yellow pond turtle MMP3 has eight exons and seven introns. The phylogenetic tree showed that the MaMMP3 is closely related to Gallus gallus MMP3 and Taeniopygia guttata MMP3. The mRNA expression of the MaMMP3 in normal group without any bacterial challenge could be detected in all studied tissues including kidney, heart, live and spleen, with the highest level in the spleen. The results of immune challenge showed that the expression level of MaMMP3 was up-regulated in the spleen and liver. These results provided an important information for studying the roles of Asian yellow pond turtle MMP3 in immunity further.     

香蕉果实XET cDNA的克隆及其在成熟软化的果实果皮和果肉中的表达分析

木葡聚糖内糖基转移酶(Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase,XET)通过分解细胞壁半纤维素多糖的主要成分--木葡聚糖而参与果实软化.为了阐明香蕉(Musa acuminata.Colla cv.GrandNain)果实成熟过程中的软化与细胞壁代谢酶XET基因表达模式的关系,采用RT-PCR和RACE-PCR方法,首次从成熟香蕉果实果肉中分离了编码XT基因的全长cDNA(MA-XET1,全长1 095 bp).序列分析表明,MA-XET1的5'端和3'端的非翻译区分别为66 bp和1 89bp,该片段含有一个完整的开放读码框,编码280个氨基酸,推导的MA-XET1蛋白质中存在XET蛋白的催化活性部位DEIDFEFL.Southern杂交表明,MA-XET1在香蕉基因组中由多拷贝基因编码.Northern分析显示,跃变前期的果肉中,不能检测MA-XET1基因的表达,跃变期的果实果肉中MA-XET1表达增加,跃变后期该基因表达略有减弱;在跃变前期的果实果皮中,MA-XET1的积累较低,跃变期的果实果皮中积累大幅增加,而后迅速下降.Propylene(丙烯,乙烯的类似物)处理降低香蕉果实果皮和果肉的硬度,而且propylene促进MA-XET1在果皮和果肉中的积累.这些结果表明,MA-XET1参与香蕉果实成熟过程中的果皮和果肉软化,并且,MA-XET1的表达在转录水平上受乙烯调控.     

香蕉果实软化相关β-半乳糖苷酶基因的克隆及其表达分析

β-半乳糖苷酶（β-galactosidase）通过分解细胞壁半纤维素切除半乳糖键而参与果实软化。为了阐明香蕉（Musasp．）果实成熟过程中的软化与细胞壁代谢酶β-半乳糖苷酶基因表达之间的关系,采用RT-PCR方法,从成熟香蕉果实果肉中分离了编码β-半乳糖苷酶基因的部分cDNA（MA-Gal）,序列分析表明,MA-Gal包含927bp,编码309个氨基酸,包含5个β-半乳糖苷酶结构域（典型真核生物中β-半乳糖苷酶包含7个结构域）,推导的MA-Gal蛋白质中有β-半乳糖苷酶蛋白的催化活性部位GGPIILSQIENEY（F）;系统进化树分析结果表明MA-Gal属于第一类β-半乳糖苷酶基因（该类主要在果实中表达）;β-半乳糖苷酶活性和硬度的变化表明其与香蕉果实硬度变化密切相关;Northern分析显示,跃变前期的果肉中,MA-Gal基因的表达量很低,后随着果实的软化表达量不断增加,并在呼吸跃变后达到最高。所有结果表明,MA-Gal参与香蕉果实成熟过程中的软化。     

香蕉果实成熟软化时果皮和果肉中α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶活性的变化

阿拉伯糖是果实软化过程中变化最明显的细胞壁糖残基之一,α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶是导致细胞壁多糖中阿拉伯糖残基降解的主要糖苷酶。为阐明该酶在香蕉果实成熟软化中的作用,实验对香蕉贮藏过程中果皮和果肉中该酶活性以及果实硬度、呼吸强度和乙烯释放量的变化进行了研究。结果表明:α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶在果实初期的变化很小,到果实硬度开始急剧下降时达到最大,增加量达10倍以上,且果肉中的酶活性大于果皮中;乙烯吸收剂处理延缓了香蕉果实呼吸和乙烯高峰的出现时间,降低了果实硬度、果皮和果肉中α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶活性变化的速度和幅度。以上结果表明α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶起诱导香蕉果实成熟的作用,在果实的软化中起着十分重要的作用,且其活性受乙烯的调节。     

Post-harvest physiology of tetraploid banana fruit: response to storage and ripening

Aspects of the post-harvest physiology relating to storage and ripening of the fruit of tetraploid banana clones resistant to Sigatoka disease, have been compared with fruit of Valery, an important commercial triploid cultivar. Significant differences in susceptibility to low temperature injury, duration of the preclimacteric period, the texture of pulp and peel and ethylene evolution have been found between tetraploid and Valery fruit and also between tetraploid fruit of different clones. Fruit of Valery and one tetraploid clone developed serious chilling injury during storage at 12 °C whereas that of five other tetraploid clones showed only slight damage. The preclimacteric period for fruit of two tetraploid clones was 30–45% less than for Valery fruit at an equivalent stage of physical development. Pulp firmness of preclimacteric tetraploid fruit was 20–30% less than that of Valery fruit and the differences persisted through ripening. The softening response to applied ethylene was up to 15 h earlier in fruit of tetraploid clones than of Valery but respiratory patterns, colour development and starch-to-sugar conversion were similar. Unlike Valery fruit, ripe tetraploid fruit did not develop senescent spotting, and shelf life was terminated by rapid deterioration of peel strength to a state of severe finger drop. Temporal and quantitative differences occurred between fruit of tetraploid clones and Valery in production of ethylene and these may relate to the observed differences in control of softening in both pulp and peel.     

Role of Brassinosteroids, Ethylene, Abscisic Acid, and Indole-3-Acetic Acid in Mango Fruit Ripening

Rapid ripening of mango fruit limits its distribution to distant markets. To better understand and perhaps manipulate this process, we investigated the role of plant hormones in modulating climacteric ripening of ??Kensington Pride?? mango fruits. Changes in endogenous levels of brassinosteroids (BRs), abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ethylene and the respiration rate, pulp firmness, and skin color were determined at 2-day intervals during an 8-day ripening period at ambient temperature (21?±?1°C). We also investigated the effects of exogenously applied epibrassinolide (Epi-BL), (+)-cis, trans-abscisic acid (ABA), and an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), on fruit-ripening parameters such as respiration, ethylene production, fruit softening, and color. Climacteric ethylene production and the respiration peak occurred on the fourth day of ripening. Castasterone and brassinolide were present in only trace amounts in fruit pulp throughout the ripening period. However, the exogenous application of Epi-BL (45 and 60?ng?g^?1 FW) advanced the onset of the climacteric peaks of ethylene production and respiration rate by 2 and 1?day, respectively, and accelerated fruit color development and softening during the fruit-ripening period. The endogenous level of ABA rose during the climacteric rise stage on the second day of ripening and peaked on the fourth day of ripening. Exogenous ABA promoted fruit color development and softening during ripening compared with the control and the trend was reversed in NDGA-treated fruit. The endogenous IAA level in the fruit pulp was higher during the preclimacteric minimum stage and declined during the climacteric and postclimacteric stages. We speculate that higher levels of endogenous IAA in fruit pulp during the preclimacteric stage and the accumulation of ABA prior to the climacteric stage might switch on ethylene production that triggers fruit ripening. Whilst exogenous Epi-BL promoted fruit ripening, endogenous measurements suggest that changes in BRs levels are unlikely to modulate mango fruit ripening.     

香蕉果胶裂解酶基因的克隆

根据已经报告的香蕉果胶裂解酶基因序列,设计了特异引物,通过RT-PCR获得果胶裂解酶的cDNA,并克隆测序,与已报告的序列进行了比较,二者核苷酸序列的同源性达99.24%;推测的氨基酸序列也具有很高的同源性,达97.7%.通过RT-PCR的方法对香蕉不同组织和不同成熟度果实的果胶裂解酶基因的表达进行了研究.结果表明该基因只在果实中表达,具有组织特异性,而且只在果实的特定发育阶段表达.     

香蕉果实特异性ACC合酶的cDNA克隆及序列分析

根据ACC合酶高度保守区氨基酸序列设计两种兼并引物。通过RTPCR,克隆了香蕉果肉ACC合酶1693bp的cDNA片段。再根据其序列测定结果进行5′RACE(RapidamplificationofcDNAends)。最终确定香蕉果肉中ACC合酶的mRNA全长为1752个核苷酸。其中5′非翻译区74个核苷酸,编码区1461个核苷酸,3′非翻译区217个核苷酸,编码产物为486个氨基酸。通过Northern杂交分析,证明此ACC合酶基因的表达具有果实特异性