Characterization of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (SlPAL5) from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Phylogenetic analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequence of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (SlPAL5) cDNA from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) revealed high sequence similarity to PAL genes in Nicotiana tabacum (92%), Ipomoea nil (87%), Manihot esculenta (84%), and Catharanthus roseus (84%). The SlPAL5 gene exists as multiple copies in the tomato plant, and its transcription was strongly expressed in old leaves and flowers. From 5 days post-anthesis to the onset of ripening, SlPAL5 expression decreased gradually but was maintained at a comparatively high level; SlPAL5 transcript expression was very low at the mature-green stage. SlPAL5 expression was significantly induced in response to NaCl, mannitol, and cold treatment; SlPAL5 expression decreased gradually after treatment with abscisic acid and H(2)O(2); SlPAL5 transcript decreased after exposure to methyl viologen for 3 h and increased after 6 h and maintained a stable expression level until 24 h, suggesting that the SlPAL5 gene may function in the response to abiotic stress.