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Multiple Forms of Pectinesterase are Present in Tomato and Other Fruit

Summary & Future work

We have developed a technique for the rapid separation of PE isoforms in a range of fruit tissues. Currently the technique is being used to screen tomato primary transformants downregulated for PE3.

Future work will use an antibody raised against tomato PE2 to determine if any of the isoforms detected in the various fruit cross-react with this antibody. An understanding of which PE isoforms are present in other fruit will enable the corresponding genes to be isolated by probing a cDNA library with the appropriate tomato cDNA clone.

Processed tomato paste containing genetically modified tomatoes engineered for low Polygalacturonase (PG) activity have already gone on sale in the UK. These tomatoes have improved processing characteristics resulting in a thicker paste.

The benefits of low PE fruit are less obvious. Some preliminary trials have indicated that PE2 antisense tomatoes maintain their integrity better on defrosting from cold storage. Due to the likely interaction between PE and PG, there may be processing benefits in the alteration of levels of both enzymes simultaneously.

Further Reading

• Title Page
• Introduction
• Assay development
• Total Pectinesterase activity in fruit
• Pectinesterase in Tomato
• Pectinesterase in Strawberry
• Pectinesterase in citrus fruits
• Pectinesterase in Grapes
• Summary & Future work
• References