title: Pectate lyase gene expression and enzyme activity in ripening banana fruit.
abstract: Two distinct cDNA clones showing sequence homology to higher-plant pectate lyase (Pel) genes were isolated from ripening banana fruits. The transcripts were detected only in fruit tissue and both were strongly ripening-related. Yeast transformation with the most highly expressed Pel clone produced a recombinant protein with pectate lyase activity, demonstrating that this sequence was likely to encode a pectate lyase protein in planta. An assay developed for measuring the action of the endogenous enzyme from banana pulp tissue revealed a significant increase in calcium-dependent pectate lyase activity during ripening. The enhanced levels of enzyme activity corresponded with an increase in soluble polyuronides from banana pulp.
authors.affiliation: Horticulture Research International, Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Department, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, CV35 9EF, UK.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marín-Rodríguez
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orchard
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D028521:Musa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012995:Solubility; D014574:Uronic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014574:Uronic Acids; C018402:traumacel; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C023911:pectate lyase