Open AccessDifferential expression of two genes for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase in tomato fruits.
Author(s) -
David C. Olson,
Joseph A. White,
Leonard Edelman,
Richard N. Harkins,
Hans Kende
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.88.12.5340
Subject(s) - atp synthase , complementary dna , biology , gene isoform , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , biochemistry , ripening , enzyme , food science
1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACC synthase; S-adenosyl-L-methionine methylthioadenosine-lyase, EC 4.4.1.14) is the regulated enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the plant hormone ethylene. A full-length cDNA encoding this enzyme has been cloned from tomato fruits [Van Der Straeten, D., Van Wiemeersch, L., Goodman, H. M. & Van Montagu, M. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1990) 87, 4859-4863]. We report here the complete nucleotide and derived amino acid sequences of a cDNA encoding a second isoform of ACC synthase from tomato fruits. The cDNAs coding for both isoforms contain highly conserved regions that are surrounded by regions of low homology, especially at the 5' and 3' ends. Gene-specific probes were constructed to examine the expression of transcripts encoding the two ACC synthase isoforms under two conditions of enhanced ethylene formation--namely, during fruit ripening and in response to mechanical stress (wounding). The level of mRNA encoding both isoforms, ACC synthase 1 and 2, increased during ripening. In contrast, wounding caused an increase in only the level of mRNA coding for ACC synthase 1. Blot analysis of genomic DNA digested with restriction enzymes confirmed that ACC synthase 1 and 2 are encoded by different genes.