CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF GENES ENCODING ACC SYNTHASE IN KIWIFRUIT

To study the ethylene synthesis of kiwifruit at the molecular level, cDNAs for ACC synthase were cloned and the expression of these genes was investigated.
Poly(A)⁺ RNA prepared from kiwifruit mesocarp and a set of oligonucleotide primers of specific sequence for ACC synthase were used for Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). We obtained 311 bp cDNA (KWACC1) from ethylene-treated fruit and 305 bp cDNA (KWACC2) from wounded mesocarp tissue.
Based on comparisons of their deduced amino acid sequences with those of previously reported ACC synthase cDNAs, it was concluded that KWACC1 and KWACC2 were derived from the mRNAs encoding ACC synthase.
The expression of these genes with acceleration in ethylene production was examined by Southern blot analysis using the cDNA amplified from poly(A)⁺ RNA by RT-PCR. KWACC2 was actively transcribed in only wounded tissue, not in ethylene-treated ripe fruit.
In contrast, KWACC1 was transcribed not only in ethylene-treated ripe fruit but in wounded tissue.
The expression of ACC synthase genes in kiwifruit compared to those in tomato fruit was discussed.

Postharvest Physiology of Fruits

Y. Ikoma, M. Yano, K. Ogawa

ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) synthase, Ethylene, Fruit ripening, Wounding, Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward, cDNA cloning

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.398.18