Expression profiling of ascorbic acid-related genes during tomato fruit development and ripening and in response to stress conditions.

ABSTRACT: L-ascorbate (the reduced form of vitamin C) participates in diverse biological processes including pathogen defence mechanisms, and the modulation of plant growth and morphology, and also acts as an enzyme cofactor and redox status indicator. One of its chief biological functions is as an antioxidant. L-ascorbate intake has been implicated in the prevention/alleviation of varied human ailments and diseases including cancer. To study the regulation of accumulation of this important nutraceutical in fruit, the expression of 24 tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) genes involved in the biosynthesis, oxidation, and recycling of L-ascorbate during the development and ripening of fruit have been characterized. Taken together with L-ascorbate abundance data, the results show distinct changes in the expr

SUBMITTER: Ioannidi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2651456 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature