Analysis of Papaya Cell Wall-Related Genes during Fruit Ripening Indicates a Central Role of Polygalacturonases during Pulp Softening |
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| Authors: | Jo?o Paulo Fabi Sabrina Garcia Broetto Sarah Lígia Garcia Leme da Silva Silin Zhong Franco Maria Lajolo Jo?o Roberto Oliveira do Nascimento |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.; 2. State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.; 3. University of São Paulo, – NAPAN – Food and Nutrition Research Center, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.; University of Malaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain, |
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| Abstract: | Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a climacteric fleshy fruit that undergoes dramatic changes during ripening, most noticeably a severe pulp softening. However, little is known regarding the genetics of the cell wall metabolism in papayas. The present work describes the identification and characterization of genes related to pulp softening. We used gene expression profiling to analyze the correlations and co-expression networks of cell wall-related genes, and the results suggest that papaya pulp softening is accomplished by the interactions of multiple glycoside hydrolases. The polygalacturonase cpPG1 appeared to play a central role in the network and was further studied. The transient expression of cpPG1 in papaya results in pulp softening and leaf necrosis in the absence of ethylene action and confirms its role in papaya fruit ripening. |
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