title: Cloning of a Cicer arietinum beta-galactosidase with pectin-degrading function.
abstract: The cDNA clone (CanBGal-3) encoding a cell wall pectin-degrading beta-galactosidase (beta III-Gal) from Cicer arietinum L. cv. Castellana has been identified. The identification was carried out by comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of several isolated chickpea beta-galactosidase clones with the purified beta III-Gal protein sequence. The expression pattern of the gene corresponding to CanBGal-3 was in concordance with the fluctuations of the enzyme beta III-Gal in different seedling organs, being specific to elongating organs such as epicotyls and roots. Transformation of Solanum tuberosum plants with the chickpea CanBGal-3 clone indicated that the beta-galactosidase encoded by this clone is a pectin-degrading enzyme. The authors propose an important role for chickpea beta III-Gal in pectin degradation in cell walls of vegetative organs such as epicotyls and roots. The degradation of galactan carried out by this enzyme may determine structural changes and affect cell wall porosity. It is suggested that the increase in the size of cell wall pores could permit access of other cell wall-modifying enzymes to their substrate.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. de Fisiología Vegetal. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Centro Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias, Pza Doctores de la Reina s/n, Salamanca 37007, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dopico
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romo
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Labrador
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D029863:Cicer / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010368:Pectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010368:Pectins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase