Synthesis of polygalacturonase during tomato fruit ripening.

The cell wall degrading enzyme polygalacturonase (E.C. 3.2.1.15) is not detectable in green tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). Activity appears at the onset of ripening and in ripe fruit it is one of the major cell-wall-bound proteins. Radioimmunoassay results, employing an antibody against purified polygalacturonase, suggest that during ripening the enzyme is synthesised de novo. Radioimmunoassay data also show that the low level of polygalacturonase in "Never ripe" mutants and the lack of activity in "ripening inhibitor" mutants can be correlated to the levels of immunologically detectable polygalacturonase protein.