Da. Brummell et al., Modification of expansin protein abundance in tomato fruit alters softening and cell wall polymer metabolism during ripening, PL CELL, 11(11), 1999, pp. 2203-2216
The role of the ripening-specific expansin Exp1 protein in fruit softening
and cell wall metabolism was investigated by suppression and overexpression
of Exp1 in transgenic tomato plants. Fruit in which Exp1 protein accumulat
ion was suppressed to 3% that of wild-type levels were firmer than controls
throughout ripening. Suppression of Exp1 protein also substantially inhibi
ted polyuronide depolymerization late in ripening but did not prevent the b
reakdown of structurally important hemicelluloses, a major contributor to s
oftening. In contrast, fruit overexpressing high levels of recombinant Exp1
protein were much softer than controls, even in mature green fruit before
ripening commenced. This softening was correlated with the precocious and e
xtensive depolymerization of structural hemicelluloses, whereas polyuronide
depolymerization was not altered. These data are consistent with there bei
ng at least three components to fruit softening and textural changes. One c
omponent is a relaxation of the wall directly mediated by Exp1, which indir
ectly limits part of a second component due to polyuronide depolymerization
late in ripening, perhaps by controlling access of a pectinase to its subs
trate. The third component is caused by depolymerization of hemicelluloses,
which occurs independently of or requires only very small amounts of Exp1
protein.