Transcriptional activation by heat and cold of a thiol protease gene in tomato.

We previously determined that low temperature induces the accumulation in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit of a cloned mRNA, designated C14, encoding a polypeptide related to thiol proteases (MA Schaffer, RL Fischer [1988] Plant Physiol 87: 431-436). We now demonstrate that C14 mRNA accumulation is a response common to both high (40 degrees C) and low (4 degrees C) temperature stresses. Exposure of tomato fruit to 40 degrees C results in the accumulation of C14 mRNA, by 8 hours. This response is more rapid than that to 4 degrees C, but slower than the induction of many heat shock messages by 40 degrees C, and therefore unique. We have also studied the mechanism by which heat and cold exposure activate C14 gene expression. Both high and low temperature regulate protease gene expression through transcriptional induction of a single C14 gene. A hypothesis for the function of C14 thiol protease gene expression in response to heat and cold is discussed.