OVEREXPRESSION OF GLYCIN RICH RNA BINDING PROTEINS IN TOMATO FRUITS

RUGGIERI GERMAN; BALPARDA MANUEL; TRIASSI AGUSTINA; MÜLLER GABRIELA

ROSARIO

Congreso; L Reunión Anual Sociedad Argentina de investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2014

The genome of Solanum lycopersicum presents three genes coding for glycine rich RNA-binding proteins (GRPs) named LeGRP1a-c. For each gene, three transcriptional products are identified, the un-spliced pre-RNA, the mature mRNA and the alternative spliced mRNA (preLeGRP1a-c, mLeGRP1a-c and asLeGRP1a-c, respectively). In this study, S. lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom overexpressing the premature transcript of LeGRP1a gene (preLeGRP1a) in tomatoes was analyzed. The expression pattern of LeGRP1a-c were evaluated in transgenic fruits and compared with wild type in three stages of fruit development, immature green, mature green and red ripe. Particular circadian profiles of expression of all transcriptional forms of LeGRP1a-c and the corresponding total immunoreactive LeGRP1 indicates that the overexpressed transcript (preGRP1a) is processed and also regulates the expression of the other family transcripts. LeGRP proteins show the classical N-terminal end RNA recognition motif and the C-terminal end glycine-rich region, suggesting conservation of functional properties. Recombinant LeGRP1a protein binds single strand RNA but not double strand DNA. Future experiments in order to elucidate the candidates of this protein will explain its importance in response to various stresses.