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Plastid changes during the conversion of chloroplasts to chromoplasts in ripening tomatoes

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Abstract

Methods were developed for the isolation of plastids from mature green and ripening tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and purification by sucrose or Percoll density-gradient centrifugation. Assessment of the purity of preparations involved phase-contrast and electron microscopy, assays for marker enzymes and RNA extraction and analysis. Proteins were extracted from isolated plastids at different ripening stages and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The profiles obtained from chloroplasts and chromoplasts showed many qualitative and quantitative differences. Labelling of proteins with [35S]methionine in vivo showed that there was active protein synthesis throughout ripening, but there was a change in the plastid proteins made as ripening proceeded. The cellular location of synthesis of specific proteins has yet to be established.

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Abbreviations

CS:

citrate synthase

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid,-acetate

GAPDH:

NADP+-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

rRNA:

ribosomal RNA

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulphate

SDS-PAGE:

SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Tris:

2-amino-2(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, Loughborough, UK

    B. Bathgate, M. E. Purton & D. Grierson

  2. Department of Food and Beverages, Long Ashton Research Station, Long Ashton, BS18 9AF, Bristol, UK

    P. W. Goodenough

Authors
  1. B. Bathgate
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  2. M. E. Purton
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  3. D. Grierson
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  4. P. W. Goodenough
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Bathgate, B., Purton, M.E., Grierson, D. et al. Plastid changes during the conversion of chloroplasts to chromoplasts in ripening tomatoes. Planta 165, 197–204 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395042

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00395042

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