Ws. Wong et al., Identification of two chilling-regulated 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylatesynthase genes from citrus (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) fruit, PLANT MOL B, 41(5), 1999, pp. 587-600
Diurnal change in the temperature below or above 12.5 degrees C hastens the
degreening of citrus peel and elicits the phytohormone ethylene production
in citrus fruit. Ethylene triggers the degradation of chlorophyll and synt
hesis of carotenoids in citrus peel. To investigate if ethylene is required
for the degreening of citrus peel elicited by low temperatures, we studied
the chilling-regulated gene expression of ACC synthase, one of the key enz
ymes catalyzing ethylene biosynthesis. We isolated and characterized a chil
ling-inducible 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACC synthase) ge
ne, CS-ACS1, and a chilling-repressible gene, CS-ACS2, from citrus peel. Th
e CS-ACS1 transcript 1.7 kb in length encodes a polypeptide of 483 amino ac
ids (M-r 54 115, pI 6.63), whereas the CS-ACS2 transcript of 1.8 kb encodes
a polypeptide of 477 amino acids (M-r 53 291, pI 6.72). Both genes showed
a rapid but transient induction (within 2.4 h) of transcripts upon rewarmin
g after the chilling (4 degrees C) treatment. After 24 h of incubation at r
oom temperature, CS-ACS1 mRNA diminished to an undetectable level, whereas
the CS-ACS2 mRNA regained its basal level of expression attained prior to t
he chilling treatment. Chilling-induced ethylene production and ACC accumul
ation were also observed upon rewarming. Both genes were also induced by th
e wound stress (excision). The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide su
per-enhances the accumulation of both ACS transcripts at room temperature.
Molecular analysis of the 3.3 kb genomic DNA of CS-ACS1 revealed that this
gene consists of three introns and four exons. The intron 3 is exceptionall
y large (1.2 kb) and shares significant homology with mitochondrial DNA, su
pporting the intron-late theory.