Analysis of ascorbic acid biosynthesis using a simple transient gene expression system in tomato fruit protoplasts.

We established a new method of transient expression using tomato fruit protoplasts. The method showed that L-ascorbic acid (AsA) content in tomato protoplasts was increased by transient expression of the L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase gene. This system provides a means of rapid analysis to clarify the function of AsA biosynthetic enzymes and AsA roles in tomato fruit.