Plastid gene expression during fruit ripening in tomato
B Piechulla1, K R Imlay, W Gruissem
1Department of Botany, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A..
Plant Molecular Biology
|December 6, 2013
Summary
Tomato fruit ripening involves chloroplasts changing to chromoplasts, leading to decreased expression of most plastid genes. However, the psbA gene remains highly expressed in red fruit.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Genomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chloroplasts differentiate into chromoplasts during tomato fruit ripening.
- Plastid gene expression changes are critical for this developmental transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the tomato chloroplast genome and identify plastid genes.
- To investigate the expression patterns of specific plastid genes during fruit ripening.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a tomato chloroplast genome map using restriction enzymes (Hpa I, Pvu II, Sal I).
- Location of twelve plastid genes on the 159 kb tomato plastid genome.
- Analysis of plastid gene transcript levels during fruit ripening.
Main Results:
- The tomato chloroplast genome was mapped, and twelve genes were located.
- Transcript levels for photosystem I (psaA), photosystem II (psbB, psbC, psbD), and stroma (rbcL) genes decreased during chloroplast to chromoplast differentiation.
- psbA gene transcripts (encoding the 32 kD herbicide-binding protein) remained abundant in red fruit chromoplasts.
Conclusions:
- Plastid gene expression is significantly altered during tomato fruit ripening.
- Specific genes like psaA, psbC, psbD, and rbcL are downregulated in chromoplasts.
- The psbA gene shows differential expression, remaining active in mature red fruit.
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