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Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol. 52, No. 357, pp. 663-668, April 15, 2001
© 2001 Oxford University Press

Original Papers

Down-regulation of a ripening-related ß-galactosidase gene (TBG1) in transgenic tomato fruits

Annette T. Carey1,6, David L. Smith2, Elizabeth Harrison1, Colin R. Bird3, Kenneth C. Gross2, Graham B. Seymour1,5 and Gregory A. Tucker4

1 Department of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK
2 Horticultural Crops Quality Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, USA
3 Zeneca Plant Science, Jealott's Hill Research Station, Bracknell, Berkshire RG 12 6EY, UK
4 School of Biological Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5RD, UK

Exo-galactanase/ß-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) activity is thought to be responsible for the loss of galactosyl residues from the cell walls of ripening tomatoes. Transgenic tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Ailsa Craig) with reduced exo-galactanase/ß-galactosidase mRNA were generated to test this hypothesis and to investigate the role of the enzyme in fruit softening. A previously identified tomato ß-galactosidase cDNA clone, TBG1, was used in the experiments. Heterologous expression of the clone in yeast demonstrated that TBG1 could release galactosyl residues from tomato cell wall galactans. Transgenic plants showed a reduction in TBG1 mRNA to 10% of normal levels in the ripening fruits. However, despite the reduction in message, total ß-galactosidase and exo-galactanase activities were unaffected. Furthermore, there was no apparent effect on levels of cell wall galactosyl residues when compared with the control. It was concluded that during the ripening of tomato fruits a family of ß-galactosidases capable of degrading cell wall galactans are active and down-regulation of TBG1 message to 10% was insufficient to alter the degree of galactan degradation.

Key words: ß-galactosidase, TBG1, tomato, fruit ripening, transgenic plants, cell walls.


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