title: Analysis of papaya cell wall-related genes during fruit ripening indicates a central role of polygalacturonases during pulp softening.
abstract: Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a climacteric fleshy fruit that undergoes dramatic changes during ripening, most noticeably a severe pulp softening. However, little is known regarding the genetics of the cell wall metabolism in papayas. The present work describes the identification and characterization of genes related to pulp softening. We used gene expression profiling to analyze the correlations and co-expression networks of cell wall-related genes, and the results suggest that papaya pulp softening is accomplished by the interactions of multiple glycoside hydrolases. The polygalacturonase cpPG1 appeared to play a central role in the network and was further studied. The transient expression of cpPG1 in papaya results in pulp softening and leaf necrosis in the absence of ethylene action and confirms its role in papaya fruit ripening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; University of São Paulo, - NAPAN - Food and Nutrition Research Center, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina Garcia
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Broetto
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sarah Lígia Garcia Leme
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Silin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; University of São Paulo, - NAPAN - Food and Nutrition Research Center, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Franco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lajolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, FCF, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; University of São Paulo, - NAPAN - Food and Nutrition Research Center, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Roberto Oliveira
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D029441:Carica / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D007700:Kinetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011096:Polygalacturonase