Changes in Gene Expression during Tomato Fruit Ripening

Total proteins from pericarp tissue of different chronological ages from normally ripening tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Rutgers) fruits and from fruits of the isogenic ripening-impaired mutants rin, nor, and Nr were extracted and separated by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the stained bands revealed increases in 5 polypeptides (94, 44, 34, 20, and 12 kilodaltons), decreases in 12 polypeptides (106, 98, 88, 76, 64, 52, 48, 45, 36, 28, 25, and 15 kilodaltons), and fluctuations in 5 polypeptides (85, 60, 26, 21, and 16 kilodaltons) as normal ripening proceeded. Several polypeptides present in ripening normal pericarp exhibited very low or undetectable levels in developing mutant pericarp. Total RNAs extracted from various stages of Rutgers pericarp and from 60 to 65 days old rin, nor, and Nr pericarp were fractionated into poly(A)⁺ and poly(A)⁻ RNAs. Peak levels of total RNA, poly(A)⁺ RNA, and poly(A)⁺ RNA as percent of total RNA occurred between the mature green to breaker stages of normal pericarp. In vitro translation of poly(A)⁺ RNAs from normal pericarp in rabbit reticulocyte lysates revealed increases in mRNAs for 9 polypeptides (116, 89, 70, 42, 38, 33, 31, 29, and 26 kilodaltons), decreases in mRNAs for 2 polypeptides (41 and 35 kilodaltons), and fluctuations in mRNAs for 5 polypeptides (156, 53, 39, 30, and 14 kilodaltons) during normal ripening. Analysis of two-dimensional separation of in vitro translated polypeptides from poly(A)⁺ RNAs isolated from different developmental stages revealed even more extensive changes in mRNA populations during ripening. In addition, a polygalacturonase precursor (54 kilodaltons) was immunoprecipitated from breaker, turning, red ripe, and 65 days old Nr in vitro translation products.     

Reversible Inhibition of Tomato Fruit Gene Expression at High Temperature (Effects on Tomato Fruit Ripening)

The reversible inhibition of three ripening-related processes by high-temperature treatment (38[deg]C) was examined in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv Daniella) fruit. Ethylene production, color development, and softening were inhibited during heating and recovered afterward, whether recovery took place at 20[deg]C or fruit were first held at chilling temperature (2[deg]C) after heating and then placed at 20[deg]C. Ethylene production and color development proceeded normally in heated fruit after 14 d of chilling, whereas the unheated fruit had delayed ethylene production and uneven color development. Levels of mRNA for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase, phytoene synthase, and polygalacturonase decreased dramatically during the heat treatment but recovered afterward, whereas the mRNA for HSP17 increased during the high-temperature treatment and then decreased when fruit were removed from heat. As monitored by western blots, the HSP17 protein disappeared from fruit tissue after 3 d at 20[deg]C but remained when fruit were held at 2[deg]C. The persistence of heat-shock proteins at low temperature may be relevant to the protection against chilling injury provided by the heat treatment. Protein levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase and polygalacturonase also did not closely follow the changes in their respective mRNAs. This implied both differences in relative stability and turnover rates of mRNA compared to protein and nontranslation of the message that accumulated in low temperature. The results suggest that high temperature inhibits ripening by inhibiting the accumulation of ripening-related mRNAs. Ripening processes that depend on continuous protein synthesis including ethylene production, lycopene accumulation, and cell-wall dissolution are thereby diminished.     

类胡萝卜素合成的相关基因及其基因工程

类胡萝卜素具有多种生物功能,尤其在保护人类健康方面起着重要的作用,如它们是合成维生素A的前体,能够增强人体免疫力和具有防癌抗癌的功效。人体自身不能合成类胡萝卜素,必须通过外界摄入;但类胡萝卜素在许多植物中含量较低,并且很难用化学方法合成。随着类胡萝卜素生物合成途径的阐明及其相关基因的克隆,运用基因工程手段调控类胡萝卜素的生物合成已成为可能。本文综述了微生物和高等植物类胡萝卜素生物合成途径中相关基因的克隆,以及运用这些基因通过异源微生物生产类胡萝卜素和提高作物类胡萝卜素含量的基因工程研究进展。     

番茄果实成熟过程中番茄红素含量及合成相关基因表达的分析

以2个高代自交系粉果番茄MLK1和红果番茄FL1为材料,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术及色差仪法,对果实成熟过程中4个时期的番茄红素含量分析及八氢番茄红素合成酶(Psy1和Psy2)和番茄红素环化酶(Lcy)基因的表达进行研究。结果表明,在番茄果实成熟的过程中,番茄红素的含量也逐渐增高,在完熟期达到最高,且红果中的含量高于粉果中的。在2个番茄品种果实不同部位中,Psy1、Psy2和Lcy基因在果实逐渐成熟的过程中转录水平均逐渐增加,在完熟期表达量最高,且红果FL1中的表达量高于粉果MLK1表达量,果实中Psy基因的表达量高于Lcy基因的表达量。     

The Tissue-Specific Gene Expression during Progression of Mouse Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Expression of hepato-specific genes in slow- and fast-growing hepatocellular murine carcinomas was studied. A fast-growing dedifferentiated transplantable hepatocarcinoma variant (fgHCC) arose from the highly differentiated slow-growing hepatocarcinoma (sgHCC). In contrast to the parental hepatocarcinoma, expression of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4), one of the key regulators of hepatocyte differentiation, and several HNF-4-responsive genes, transferrin, transthyretin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1), and serum albumin, was downregulated in fgHCC. The expression of exogenous HNF4 in the fgHCC cell culture partially restored the expression of hepato-specific genes and led to the formation of epithelial islets in the culture. The described system may serve as an appropriate model for further analysis of mechanisms underlying hepatocarcinogenesis and liver tumor progression.     

The Tomato E8 Gene Influences Ethylene Biosynthesis in Fruit but Not in Flowers

We investigated the function of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) E8 gene. Previous experiments in which antisense suppression of E8 was used suggested that the E8 protein has a negative effect on ethylene evolution in fruit. E8 is expressed in flowers as well as in fruit, and its expression is high in anthers. We introduced a cauliflower mosaic virus 35S-E8 gene into tomato plants and obtained plants with overexpression of E8 and plants in which E8 expression was suppressed due to co-suppression. Overexpression of E8 in unripe fruit did not affect the level of ethylene evolution during fruit ripening; however, reduction of E8 protein by cosuppression did lead to elevated levels during ripening. Levels for ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and ACC oxidase mRNA were increased approximately 7-fold in fruit of plants with reduced E8 protein. Levels of ACC synthase 2 mRNA were increased 2.5-fold, and ACC synthase 4 mRNA was not affected. Reduction of E8 protein in anthers did not affect the accumulation of ACC or of mRNAs encoding enzymes involved in ethylene biosynthesis. Our results suggest that the product of the E8 reaction participates in feedback regulation of ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening.     

An Antisense Gene Stimulates Ethylene Hormone Production during Tomato Fruit Ripening

The ripening of many fruits is controlled by an increase in ethylene hormone concentration. E8 is a fruit ripening protein that is related to the enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic (ACC) oxidase. To determine the function of E8, we have transformed tomato plants with an E8 antisense gene. We show here that the antisense gene inhibits the accumulation of E8 protein during ripening. Whereas others have shown that reduction of ACC oxidase results in reduced levels of ethylene biosynthesis, we find that reduction of the related E8 protein produces the opposite effect, an increase in ethylene evolution specifically during the ripening of detached fruit. Thus, E8 has a negative effect on ethylene production in fruit.     

类胡萝卜素生物合成相关基因的克隆及其遗传工程的研究进展

类胡萝卜素具有重要的生物学功能,尤其对人体健康有着更重要的作用,近年来一直是研究的热点。综述了类胡萝卜素生物合成途径及相关基因的分离,以及运用这些基因提高微生物和植物中类胡萝卜素含量的遗传工程研究进展。     

Dependence of Pepper Fruit Colour on Basic Pigments Ratio and Expression Pattern of Carotenoid and Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Genes

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Fruit biochemical analysis of four pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars, contrasting in immature and ripe fruit colour, was performed, and chlorophylls,...     

香蕉凝集素基因的克隆及在成熟果实中的特异性表达

采用RT-PCR的方法克隆香蕉凝集素(Bankc)基因,对其全序列进行了测定并与已发表的BanLec基因序列进行了比较。采用定量PCR的方法对该基因在果实成熟过程中和香蕉不同组织中的表达进行了研究,结果表明：BanLec基因的表达同时具有发育特异性和组织特异性,即仅在果实中表达,而且其表达量随果实成熟度的变化而变化。     

MPTA对柑橘果皮类胡萝卜素形成的影响

以宽皮柑橘“本地早”为试材 ,研究了 2 (4 甲基苯氧 )三乙基胺 (MPTA)处理对柑橘果实外观颜色的影响 ,并探讨其与相关类胡萝卜素消长的关系及与糖含量变化的可能联系。结果表明 :MPTA处理促进柑橘果皮组织中类胡萝卜素 (主要为番茄红素 )的生物合成 ,使果皮颜色由淡橙黄色转为红色 ;随着番茄红素的积累 ,其上游前体物质葡萄糖含量下降 ,而其下游产物β 隐黄质、玉米黄素的合成不受影响