• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.271-291
• /
• 2022

Pectin methylesterase (PME) plays an important role in vegetative and reproductive development and biotic/abiotic stress responses by regulating the degree of methyl-esterification of pectic polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. PMEs are encoded by a large multigene family in higher land plant genomes. In general, the expression of plant PME genes shows tissue- or cell-specific patterns and is induced by endogenous and exogenous stimuli. In this study, we identified PME multigene family members (CsPMEs) from the sweet orange genome and report detailed molecular characterization and expression profiling in different citrus tissues and two fruit developmental stages. We also discussed the possible functional roles of some CsPME genes by comparing them with the known functions of PMEs from other plant species. We identified 48 CsPME genes from the citrus genome. A phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the identified CsPMEs were divided into two groups/types. Some CsPMEs showed very close phylogenetic relationships with the PMEs whose functions were formerly addressed in Arabidopsis, tomato, and maize. Expression profiling showed that some CsPME genes are highly or specifically expressed in the leaf, root, flower, or fruit. Based on the phylogenetic relationships and gene expression profiling results, we suggest that some CsPMEs could play functional roles in pollen development, pollen tube growth, cross incompatibility, root development, embryo/seed development, stomata movement, and biotic/abiotic stress responses. Our results shed light on the biological roles of individual CsPME isoforms and contribute to the search for genetic variations in citrus genetic resources.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.54-64
• /
• 2014

In order to enhance the firmness of retorted onion, long time, low temperature blanching(LTLT) in calcium solution was conducted. Pre-heating onion in calcium solution significantly improved its texture after high temperature sterilization as compared to conventional blanching alone. The improvement of the firmness by the LTLT blanching is related to the formation of strongly cross-linkages between carboxyl groups and divalent cations($Ca^{2+}$) by the action of pectin methy-lesterase(PME) in onion. A maximum firmness of retorted onion was obtained at the condition of pre-heating at $70^{\circ}C$ for 120min in 0.5%calcium solution. This result supports that the activity of PME and the content of bonded calcium in onion were highest at $70^{\circ}C$. Additionally, the reaction of alkali calcium with various divalent cations such as $Mg^{2+}$ provided a function to hydrolyze pectin molecules, resulting in firmer retorted onion in various calcium agents. Further investigation should be carried out to determine the optimal condition for prevention of tissue softening of various retorted vegetables.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1365-1370
• /
• 2009

Aspergillus kawachii extracellular pectinases were screened in liquid cultures with different carbon sources. The fungus grown on citrus pectin or lemon pomace produced at least one of these inducible pectinases: acidic polygalacturonase, pectin lyase, pectin methylesterase, $\alpha$-L-arabinofuranosidase, $\alpha$-1,5-endoarabinase, $\beta$-D-galactosidase/exogalactanase, and $\beta$-1,4-endogalactanase. The lemon-pomace filtrates also contained significant $\alpha$-L-rhamnosidase and $\beta$-D-fucosidase activities. Most of the screened pectinases were active at pH 2.0-2.5, indicating that the A. kawachii enzymes were acidophilic. Under the culture conditions employed we could not detect enzymatic degradation of soybean rhamnogalacturonan. The A. kawachii pectinase-production-related regulatory phenomena of induction-repression resemble those described for other Aspergillus sp.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2001

Kiyomi tangor(Citus unshiu x sinensis) was stored at 3$\^{C}$ and 85% relative humidity, and the changes in firmness, pectin degrading enzymes activity and other physicochemical properties of citrus fruits during storage were investigated. Decay ratio and weight loss during 180 days’ storage were increased gradually to 13.0% and 12.9%, respectively. Firmness of fruits with 2 mm probe was decreased gradually from 808.7 g-force to 406.4 g-force, and moisture of peel and flesh were decreased from 76.5% to from 89.6% to 87.6% during storage, respectively. Exo-polygalacturonase activity of peel after 150 days’ storage were increased gradually to 558.09 units/100g. Pectin methylesterase activity of peel and flesh were increased from 14.7 units/g to 2.3 units/g, and from 9.4 units/ml to 2.7 units/ml at 150days’ storage, respectively. Endo-polygalacturonase activities were not changed notably during storage. Alcohol-insoluble solid(AIS) of peel was not changed notably. During storage of the fruits water soluble pectin(WSP) of peel and flesh were increased from 474.49 mg/100g to 614.29mg/100g, and from 66.91mg/100g to 92.74mg/100g as wet basis, respectively. Hexameta-phosphate soluble pectin(HMP) of peel were decreased from 405.5mg/100g to 270.43mg/100g, hydochloric acid soluble pectin(HSP) of peel was also decreased from 544.02mg/100g to 412.64mg/100g during storage. Total pectin substance(TPS) of peel and flesh were decreased from 1,424.01mg/100g to 1,297.36mg/100g, and from 165.51mg/100g to 171.54mg/100g, respectively. Composition ratio of pectin was in order of WSP > HSP > HMP.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.209-216
• /
• 2010

In order to understand the effects of a single or combined treatments of 1-MCP($1{\mu}L/L$) and $CO_2$(100%) on the firmness of melting type peach fruit(cv. Chunjungdo), fruit were harvested at commercial maturity and examined physiological changes including flesh firmness during 10 days of shelf-life. Firmness loss of fruit was delayed by both single and combined treatments of 1-MCP and $CO_2$. The treatment of 1-MCP was more effective than $CO_2$ treatment but no additive effective on firmness retention was found in the combined treatment. The upsurge of ethylene evolution occurred 5 days of shelf-life in air treated control but ethylene evolution gradually increased in fruit treated by 1-MCP and 1-MCP+$CO_2$. The suppression of ethylene evolution seemed stronger in $CO_2$ treatment. The respiration of fruit significantly inhibited up to 10 days except control where climacteric increase of respiration was found at 10 days of shelf-life. A molecular shift of pectic polymers(an increase of chelator soluble pectins and decrease of water soluble pectins) was induced by both 1-MCP and $CO_2$ treatments. An increase of water soluble pectins was coincident with firmness loss. The delay of firmness loss seemed to be associated with the migration of calcium to wall matrix, especially pectins, resulting in the increase of wall bound calcium. The polygalacturonase activity was significantly reduced by 1-MCP alone 1 day after treatment and increased to similar level of activity 5 days after treatment compared to other treatment except air treated control whereas pectin methylesterase activity seemed not to be affected by both 1-MCP and $CO_2$ treatments. Thus, the molecular shift of pectic polymers appeared not to be related with pectin methylesterase. Further study is required to clarify the softening mechanism associated with molecular shift of pectic polymers and the inter- or intra-cellular movement of calcium ions induced by postharvest treatments of 1-MCP and $CO_2$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.185-189
• /
• 2005

The effect of NaCl solution concentration (from 0 to 3 M) on the extraction of pectinesterase (PE) from jalapeno chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) was studied by determining its solubilization degree from the chili tissue. All concentrations of the salt favored the solubilization of PE in jalapeno chili pepper, compared to that in water. Maximum enzyme activity was obtained with NaCl 2.0 M. The effect of temperature on the PE activity of jalapeno chili pepper in the extracts was also studied. The PE residual activity of jalapeno pepper was 75% after 60 min of incubation at $55^{\circ}C$ and 10% at $75^{\circ}C$. At $85-95^{\circ}C$, PE residual activity was 5% after 5 min of incubation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.64-69
• /
• 1988

Isoates with changed pathogenicity were selected among iprodione-resistant Alternaria mali to investigate any relationship between their pectolytie enzyme activity and pathogenicity. In artificial medium, strongly pathogenic isolates $S_1$, and $R_3$ showed higher enzyme activity than weakly pathogenic isolate $R_8$.Activity of endo-polymethylgalacturonase and end-o-polygalacturonase was more than 3 times. But activity of pectin methylesterase and pectin Iyase by isolaste $S_1$ was higher than those by $R_3$ and $R_8$ isolates. In apple medium dialyzed against distilled water, activity of enzyme by each isolate was increased but growth of each isolate was reduced. When iprodione was added to the medium, enzyme activity and growth of isolate $S_1$, were reduced but strongly pathogenic isolate .$R_3$ among iprodione-resistant ones showed increased enzyme activity except for exo-polygalacturonase in dialyzed apple medium.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.204-212
• /
• 2016

To understand the responses of grapevines in response to cold stress causing the limited growth and development, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened through transcriptome analysis of shoots from 2 grapevine cultivars ('Campbell Early' and 'Muscat Baily A') kept at -$2^{\circ}C$ for 4 days. In gene ontology analysis of DEGs from 'Campbell Early', there were 17,424 clones related with biological process, 28,954 with cellular component, and 6,972 with molecular function genes in response to freezing temperature. The major induced genes included dehydrin xero 1, K-box region and MADS-box transcription factor family protein, and MYB domain protein 36, and inhibited genes included light-harvesting chlorophyll B-binding protein 3, FASCICLIN-like arabinoogalactan 9, and pectin methylesterase 61 in 'Campbell Early' grapevines. In gene ontology analysis of DEGs from 'Muscat Baily A', there were 1,157 clones related with biological process, 1,350 with cellular component, and 431 with molecular function gene. The major induced genes of 'Muscat Baily A' included NB-ARC domain-containing disease resistance protein, fatty acid hydrozylase superfamily, and isopentenyltransferase 3, and inhibited genes included binding, IAP-like protein 1, and pentatricopeptide repeat superfamily protein. All major DEGs were shown to be expressed differentially by freezing temperature in real time-PCR analysis. Protein domain analysis using InterPro Scan revealed that ubiquitin-protein ligase was redundant in both tested grapevines. Transcriptome profile of shoots exposed to cold can provide new insights into the molecular basis of tolerance to low-temperature in grapevines, and can be used as resources for development new grapevines tolerant to coldness.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.91-99
• /
• 2019

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades in fungi are ubiquitously conserved signaling pathways that regulate stress responses, vegetative growth, pathogenicity, and many other developmental processes. Previously, we reported that the AbSte7 gene, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) in Alternaria brassicicola, plays a central role in pathogenicity against host cabbage plants. In this research, we further characterized the role of AbSte7 in the pathogenicity of this fungus using ${\Delta}AbSte7$ mutants. Disruption of the AbSte7 gene of A. brassicicola reduced accumulation of metabolites toxic to the host plant in liquid culture media. The ${\Delta}AbSte7$ mutants could not efficiently detoxify cruciferous phytoalexin brassinin, possibly due to reduced expression of the brassinin hydrolase gene involved in detoxifying brassinin. Disruption of the AbSte7 gene also severely impaired fungal detoxification of reactive oxygen species. AbSte7 gene disruption reduced the enzymatic activity of cell walldegrading enzymes, including cellulase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, pectin methylesterase, polymethyl-galacturonase, and polygalacturonic acid transeliminase, during host plant infection. Altogether, the data strongly suggest the MAPKK gene AbSte7 plays a pivotal role in A. brassicicola during host infection by regulating multiple steps, and thus increasing pathogenicity and inhibiting host defenses.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2015

Various pretreatment methods were evaluated to prevent tissue softening of heated onion. Changes in onion tissue firmness during heating were explained by 3-mechanism model consisting of texture hardening at low temperature ($60-80^{\circ}C$) and substrate softening at high temperature. Preheating of onion in a $Ca^{2+}$-containing solution significantly improved its texture after high-temperature heating. The improvement of firmness by preheating at low temperature was related to the formation of strong cross-linking between carboxyl groups and $Ca^{2+}$ by the action of pectin methylesterase in onion. The highest firmness was obtained by pre-heating at $70^{\circ}C$ for 120 min in 0.5% calcium solution. This result was supported by chemical analysis showing that the amount of bound calcium was the highest at $70^{\circ}C$. Further investigation should be carried out to establish the optimal conditions to prevent the softening of various vegetables.