We delayed the ripening of tomato fruit for several days (average 5 days) b
y a 1-day heat treatment at 37-42 degrees C. We analyzed the tomato fruit p
ericarp proteins, which were altered by the heat stress, using two-dimensio
nal electrophoresis. Heat stress caused about 23.7% of the proteins in the
pericarp to disappear and about 1.1% of new proteins to appear. We determin
ed their apparent molecular mass, isoelectric point, and N-terminal amino a
cid sequence. Identified proteins included antioxidant enzymes, heat shock
proteins, cell-wall-related proteins, etc..