2 CDNA CLONES ENCODING 14-3-3-HOMOLOGS FROM TOMATO FRUIT

Two tomato cDNA clones with homology to the 14-3-3 family of proteins were identified through immunoscreening a ripening tomato fruit librar y (Clontech). These two clones share approx. 71% identity at the nucle otide level and 84% identity at the deduced amino acid level, with rad ical amino acid substitutions clustering at the acidic carboxy-terminu s. Southern hybridization data indicate that each clone represents a u nique gene. Distinct transcript accumulation patterns during tomato fr uit ripening together with the homology to brain regulatory proteins s uggest potential involvement in fruit development.