Regulation of Expression of the prb-1b / ACC Deaminase Gene by UV-8 in Transgenic Tomatoes

Transgenic tomato plants with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase gene from Enterobacter cloacae UW4 under the control of a pathogenesis-related promoter (prb-1b) from tobacco were challenged by abiotic stresses to determine the expression patterns ofthe transgene. No ACC deaminase RNA or protein was detected by RT-PCR and in western blots prepared from leaf proteins of transgenic plants after wounding or treatment with α-amino butyric acid, xylanase, ethephon, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, or ethylene plus jasmonic acid. However, expression of the ACC deaminase transgene was observed in leaves and roots oftransformed tomato lines exposed to UV light. The UV response required a minimum of 48 h of exposure and was specific to UV-8 light.