Isolation and regulation of accumulation of a minor chromoplast-specific protein from cucumber corollas

Yael Libal-Weksler, Michael Vishnevetsky, Mariana Ovadis, Alexander Vainstein*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The differentiation of chloroplasts to chromoplasts in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) corollas parallels flower development. Chromoplast biogenesis involves chlorophyll degradation, carotenoid accumulation, and the appearance of a new set of proteins. To study factors involved in chromoplast biogenesis in floral tissues, a minor (in abundance) protein of about 14 kD, CHRD (chromoplast protein D), was isolated from cucumber corolla chromoplasts. Immunological characterization revealed that the protein is chromoplast-specific and that its steady-state level in corollas increases in parallel to flower development. The protein was not detected in cucumber leaves or fruits. Immunological analysis of corollas and fruits from a variety of other plants also did not reveal cross-reactivity with the CHRD protein antisera. Using an in vitro bud culture system, we analyzed the effect of phytohormones on CHRD expression. Gibberellic acid rapidly enhanced, whereas paclobutrazol down-regulated, the steady-state level of CHRD. Ethylene also down-regulated the protein's steady-state level. It is suggested that hormonal control of chromoplastogenesis is tightly regulated at the tissue/organ level and that mainly developmental signals control carotenoid accumulation in nonphotosynthetic tissues.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)59-63
Number of pages5
JournalPlant Physiology
Volume113
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1997

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