果实成熟的基因调控

果实的成熟过程是由一系列生理生化学变化过程组成,这些变化过程受到外界环境条件、植激素和基因的调控。随着近年来有关果实成熟衰老的基因的分离,定性及反义基因技术在控制果实成熟上的成功应用,对揭示果实成熟衰老的分子机理起到了重要作用。本文就近来果实成熟基因调控研究进展作一简要评述。     

果实成熟和衰老的分子调控机制

成熟和衰老是果实生命周期中的两个重要阶段, 直接影响果实的品质保持及采后寿命。果实的成熟、衰老是一个复杂的生理过程, 受诸多内源因子的调控和外源因素的影响。该文重点综述近年来果实成熟、衰老分子机制方面的研究进展, 以及外源信号分子对果实成熟和衰老的调控作用。     

果实成熟衰老过程中蛋白质组学研究进展

蛋白质组学已开始应用于果实成熟衰老研究,以明确蛋白差异表达与成熟衰老的关系和深入揭示果实成熟衰老过程的分子机制。本文综述了蛋白质组学在果实成熟衰老研究中的重要性、果实样品蛋白的提取制备方法,重点介绍了蛋白质组学在果实成熟衰老机制、果实抗病性机制、冷害机制以及采后处理对果实成熟调控研究中的应用,分析了蛋白质组学在果实成熟衰老研究中存在的不足,提出了今后研究的方向。     

苹果果实HD-ZipⅠ转录因子亚家族基因鉴定及表达分析

转录因子在调控苹果果实成熟衰老过程中起到至关重要的作用。利用生物信息学方法从苹果基因组数据库筛选出22个HD-ZipⅠ转录因子家族成员并进行分类。通过对不同组织基因表达特异性分析,筛选出6个在成熟果实中表达的基因,进一步分析其在果实成熟贮藏过程中的表达差异。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,在‘富士’果实采后贮藏过程中,有3个家族成员的表达与乙烯存在不同程度的联系,其中 MdHZ 6在果实常温贮藏中的表达与内源乙烯含量变化有较高的相关性,且均在35 d达到峰值; MdHZ 15和 MdHZ 17在内源乙烯高峰之前有显著上调,预测三者与苹果的成熟衰老相关。     

采后黄花梨(Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai.)果实中丙二烯氧合酶的生理功能

以不同成熟时期黄花梨果实为材料 ,研究果实采后成熟衰老进程中丙二烯氧合酶 (AOS)与几个成熟衰老相关因子的关系 ,探讨AOS的生理功能。结果表明 :2 0℃下不同成熟时期果实成熟衰老进程中的AOS活性变化均为峰形曲线 ,活性峰值出现在采后 10～ 12d ,先于乙烯跃变峰 2～ 4d ;果实成熟衰老各种相关因子的变化峰值出现的先后顺序依次是 :脂氧合酶(LOX)、自由基 (O- ·2 )、AOS、ACC (1 氨基环丙烷 1 羧酸 )合成酶、ACC、ACC氧化酶 ,最后为乙烯跃变峰的出现。 1℃下贮藏果实的AOS活性、乙烯合成和其他成熟衰老相关酶活性均受到强烈抑制 ,ACC和O- ·2 含量也较低 ,果实衰老进程被显著延缓。推测AOS是乙烯合成的上游调控因子之一。     

SlCBL1基因调控番茄果实成熟发育的分子机理

以番茄(Solanum lycopersicum L.)品种‘Micro Tom’为试材,从其果实中克隆得到番茄类钙调磷酸酶B基因(Tomato Calcineurin B-Like gene,SlCBL1),构建其带有报告基因的e-GFP植物表达载体,分析番茄果实中SlCBL1基因超表达与成熟发育进程的相互关系。结果显示:(1)与对照非转基因植株以及转空载植株相比,转SlCBL1基因番茄中SlCBL1基因过量表达,而且能够使番茄果实成熟期提前3~5d,表明SlCBL1基因可促进番茄果实成熟。(2)番茄果实成熟相关基因的表达量也受到不同程度调控,其中番茄成熟过程中的色素合成基因、乙烯路径基因以及果实成熟相关转录因子都受到强烈的调控,与对照相比表达量分别上调5~10倍。研究表明,SlCBL1基因能够促进番茄果实成熟,而且通过影响色素合成基因以及果实成熟相关转录因子来调控番茄果实成熟。     

果实成熟过程中组织超微结构的变化

依据电镜下观察的果实成熟期间果肉组织结构的变化状态,综合论述了果实成熟过程中,果肉细胞、细胞壁构造、亚细胞结构及细胞间隙的变化,揭示了果实构造的变化与成熟衰老的密切关系。     

FaSPS1基因对草莓果实成熟调控的分子机理

该研究以草莓品种‘红颜’(Fragaria×ananassa‘Benihoppe’)为试材,分析了草莓果实发育不同阶段蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因(FaSPS1)的表达量变化,采用PCR方法克隆FaSPS1基因,构建带有报告基因的e-GFP植物表达载体,通过瞬时转基因方法转化草莓果实,采用观察绿色荧光和检测目的基因表达量的方法鉴定转基因植物,并分析FaSPS1基因超表达和反义表达后草莓果实的成熟发育以及与成熟相关的基因表达量变化,探究FaSPS1基因在果实成熟发育中的特殊作用,为深入了解草莓果实发育和成熟调控的分子机理提供思路。结果显示:(1)成功克隆得到FaSPS1基因(GenBank登录号AB267868.1);成功构建带有报告基因e-GFP的FaSPS1基因超表达载体和反义基因表达载体,通过瞬时转基因方法转化并经荧光和目的基因表达量检测的方法鉴定获得转FaSPS1基因草莓植株。(2)与空载对照和非转基因果实相比,FaSPS1基因过表达可促进草莓果实成熟,能够使草莓果实成熟期提前,且果实中蔗糖果糖含量升高;但反义表达后会抑制草莓果实成熟,果实中苹果酸含量升高。(3)基因超表达或者反义表达后,草莓果实成熟相关基因的表达量受到不同程度调控,其中糖代谢基因FaSPS2/3、FaSUT1,果实成软化基因FaEXP1、FaEXP3、FaXYL1以及激素代谢基因FaJAZ1、FaJAZ2、FaJAZ8、FaOPR3、FaPYL1、FaPYL8、FaPYL9、FaNCED1表达量变化最明显。研究推测,FaSPS1基因可能通过影响草莓果实中和成熟相关的糖代谢基因、果实软化基因以及激素代谢基因来调控草莓果实成熟。     

活性氧和能量调控下草莓果实衰老与超微弱发光的关系

该试验以‘红颜’草莓果实为试材,用过氧化氢(H_2O_2)和茶多酚(TP)、呼吸链解偶联剂——2,4-二硝基苯酚(DNP)和三磷酸腺苷(ATP)处理草莓果实,研究促进和清除活性氧以及抑制能量生成和促进能量条件下,草莓果实衰老进程和超微弱发光(UPE)的变化,探讨UPE与草莓果实衰老的关系,为了解UPE与植物成熟衰老的关系提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)在草莓果实采后衰老过程中,果实硬度持续下降,失重率和腐烂率持续上升,同时其UPE强度下降。(2)H_2O_2处理和DNP处理的果实硬度均低于对照,而其失重率和腐烂率均高于对照,同时两种处理果实的UPE强度均低于对照。(3)茶多酚处理和ATP处理的果实硬度均高于对照,而其失重率和腐烂率均低于对照,同时两种处理的UPE强度均高于对照。研究发现,活性氧调控和能量调控均能影响草莓果实的UPE强度和衰老程度,活性氧的增加加剧了果实衰老和UPE强度下降,而清除活性氧则延缓了果实衰老和UPE强度下降;抑制ATP生成加剧了果实衰老进程和UPE强度下降,增加ATP则延缓了果实衰老和UPE强度下降;UPE强度随着草莓果实逐渐衰老而下降,UPE强度与草莓果实衰老有关,反映了草莓果实的衰老进程。     

FaMADS1和FaMADS2参与ABA调控的草莓果实成熟

本试验以‘红颜’草莓为材料,通过RT-PCR技术克隆得到FaMADS1和FaMADS2基因,并且用不同浓度脱落酸(abscisic acid, ABA)和其抑制剂去甲二氢愈创木酸(nordihydroguaiaretic acid, NDGA)处理脱绿期草莓果实,以探究FaMADS1和FaMADS2基因是否参与脱落酸调控的草莓果实成熟。结果表明,FaMADS1和FaMADS2基因序列在草莓不同栽培品种间高度保守,FaMADS1基因的表达变化随果实成熟呈现先增后降再增加的变化趋势,FaMADS2基因则呈现一个逐渐下降的趋势。虽FaMADS1和FaMADS2基因在草莓果实成熟中表达趋势并不一致,但外源ABA处理均会上调其表达,NDGA会下调其表达。草莓果实发育过程中内源ABA含量变化与FaMADS1和FaMADS2基因表达的相关性分析显示两者呈显著相关。由此说明,FaMADS1和FaMADS2参与了ABA调控的草莓果实成熟。     

Abscisic acid perception and signaling transduction in strawberry: A model for non-climacteric fruit ripening

On basis of fruit differential respiration and ethylene effects, climacteric and non-climacteric fruits have been classically defined. Over the past decades, the molecular mechanisms of climacteric fruit ripening were abundantly described and found to focus on ethylene perception and signaling transduction. In contrast, until our most recent breakthroughs, much progress has been made toward understanding the signaling perception and transduction mechanisms for abscisic acid (ABA) in strawberry, a model for non-climacteric fruit ripening. Our reports not only have provided several lines of strong evidences for ABA-regulated ripening of strawberry fruit, but also have demonstrated that homology proteins of Arabidopsis ABA receptors, including PYR/PYL/RCAR and ABAR/CHLH, act as positive regulators of ripening in response to ABA. These receptors also trigger a set of ABA downstream signaling components, and determine significant changes in the expression levels of both sugar and pigment metabolism-related genes that are closely associated with ripening. Soluble sugars, especially sucrose, may act as a signal molecular to trigger ABA accumulation through an enzymatic action of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 1 (FaNCED1). This mini-review offers an overview of these processes and also outlines the possible, molecular mechanisms for ABA in the regulation of strawberry fruit ripening through the ABA receptors.     

Regulation of ripening and opportunities for control in tomato and other fruits

Fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, and their consumption is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. These important plant products can, however, be expensive to purchase, may be of disappointing quality and often have a short shelf life. A major challenge for crop improvement in fleshy fruit species is the enhancement of their health‐promoting attributes while improving quality and reducing postharvest waste. To achieve these aims, a sound mechanistic understanding of the processes involved in fruit development and ripening is needed. In recent years, substantial insights have been made into the mechanistic basis of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signalling and the identity of master regulators of ripening that operate upstream of, or in concert with a regulatory pathway mediated by this plant hormone. The role of other plant hormones in the ripening process has, however, remained elusive, and the links between regulators and downstream processes are still poorly understood. In this review, we focus on tomato as a model for fleshy fruit and provide an overview of the molecular circuits known to be involved in ripening, especially those controlling pigment accumulation and texture changes. We then discuss how this information can be used to understand ripening in other fleshy fruit‐bearing species. Recent developments in comparative genomics and systems biology approaches are discussed. The potential role of epigenetic changes in generating useful variation is highlighted along with opportunities for enhancing the level of metabolites that have a beneficial effect on human health.     

Control and manipulation of gene expression during tomato fruit ripening

Ripening is a complex developmental process involving changes in the biochemistry, physiology and gene expression of the fruit. It is an active process characterised by changes in all cellular compartments. cDNA cloning has been used as an approach to analyse changes in gene expression during fruit ripening. This has revealed that several genes are switched on specifically during fruit ripening, including one encoding polygalacturonase (PG), a major cell wall protein. These cDNA clones have been used to study the expression of the genes in normal and ripening mutant fruits, and under environmental stress conditions.The PG gene has been isolated and it has been demonstrated that 1450 bases 5 of the coding region are sufficient for the tissue- and development-specific expression of a bacterial marker gene in transgenic tomatoes. Antisense RNA techniques have been developed to generate novel mutant tomatoes in which the biochemical function of this enzyme and its involvement in fruit softening has been tested.     

Ripening of fleshy fruit: Molecular insight and the role of ethylene

Development and ripening in fruit is a unique phase in the life cycle of higher plants which encompasses several stages progressively such as fruit development, its maturation, ripening and finally senescence. During ripening phase, several physiological and biochemical changes take place through differential expression of various genes that are developmentally regulated. Expression and/or suppression of these genes contribute to various changes in the fruit that make it visually attractive and edible. However, in fleshy fruit massive losses accrue during post harvest handling of the fruit which may run into billions of dollars worldwide. This encouraged scientists to look for various ways to save these losses. Genetic engineering appears to be the most promising and cost effective means to prevent these losses. Most fleshy fruit ripen in the presence of ethylene and once ripening has been initiated proceeds uncontrollably. Ethylene evokes several responses during ripening through a signaling cascade and thousands of genes participate which not only sets in ripening but also responsible for its spoilage. Slowing down post ripening process in fleshy fruit has been the major focus of ripening-related research. In this review article, various developments that have taken place in the last decade with respect to identifying and altering the function of ripening-related genes have been described. Role of ethylene and ethylene-responsive genes in ripening of fleshy fruit is also included. Taking clues from the studies in tomato as a model fruit, few case studies are reviewed.     

A Genomics Approach Using Expressed Sequence Tags and Microarrays in Ripening Apple Fruit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus domestica</Emphasis> Borkh.)

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), an important horticultural crop, produces human health-promoting metabolites during fruit ripening. Because that process, which involves complex biochemical and physiological changes, is genetically programmed, molecular and genetic approaches have been taken to understand the associated cellular mechanisms. The release of 151,687 apple expressed sequence tags (ESTs) into a public database has made possible large-scale studies of expression. Analysis of apple ESTs allows for the identification and characterization of genes with potential roles in fruit development, particularly those related to aroma production and protein degradation during ripening. Apple cDNA and oligonucleotide microarrays have been generated for more comprehensive examinations. Such tools are powerful means for elucidating the molecular events involved in metabolite biosynthesis and physiological changes and will also enable researchers to understand how to control that ripening process.     

Proteomics as an approach to the understanding of the molecular physiology of fruit development and ripening

Fruit ripening is a developmental complex process which occurs in higher plants and involves a number of stages displayed from immature to mature fruits that depend on the plant species and the environmental conditions. Nowadays, the importance of fruit ripening comes mainly from the link between this physiological process in plants and the economic repercussions as a result of one of the human activities, the agricultural industry. In most cases, fruit ripening is accompanied by colour changes due to different pigment content and increases in sugar levels, among others. Major physiological modifications that affect colour, texture, flavour, and aroma are under the control of both external (light and temperature) and internal (developmental gene regulation and hormonal control) factors. Due to the huge amount of metabolic changes that take place during ripening in fruits from higher plants, the accomplishment of new throughput methods which can provide a global evaluation of this process would be desirable. Differential proteomics of immature and mature fruits would be a useful tool to gain information on the molecular changes which occur during ripening, but also the investigation of fruits at different ripening stages will provide a dynamic picture of the whole transformation of fruits. This subject is furthermore of great interest as many fruits are essential for human nutrition. Thus far different maturation profiles have been reported specific for each crop species. In this work, a thorough review of the proteomic database from fruit development and maturation of important crop species will be updated to understand the molecular physiology of fruits at ripening stages.     

Tomato fruit continues growing while ripening,affecting cuticle properties and cracking

Fruit cuticle composition and their mechanical performance have a special role during ripening because internal pressure is no longer sustained by the degraded cell walls of the pericarp but is directly transmitted to epidermis and cuticle which could eventually crack. We have studied fruit growth, cuticle modifications and its biomechanics, and fruit cracking in tomato; tomato has been considered a model system for studying fleshy fruit growth and ripening. Tomato fruit cracking is a major disorder that causes severe economic losses and, in cherry tomato, crack appearance is limited to the ripening process. As environmental conditions play a crucial role in fruit growing, ripening and cracking, we grow two cherry tomato cultivars in four conditions of radiation and relative humidity (RH). High RH and low radiation decreased the amount of cuticle and cuticle components accumulated. No effect of RH in cuticle biomechanics was detected. However, cracked fruits had a significantly less deformable (lower maximum strain) cuticle than non‐cracked fruits. A significant and continuous fruit growth from mature green to overripe has been detected with special displacement sensors. This growth rate varied among genotypes, with cracking‐sensitive genotypes showing higher growth rates than cracking‐resistant ones. Environmental conditions modified this growth rate during ripening, with higher growing rates under high RH and radiation. These conditions corresponded to those that favored fruit cracking. Fruit growth rate during ripening, probably sustained by an internal turgor pressure, is a key parameter in fruit cracking, because fruits that ripened detached from the vine did not crack.