Differential Expression of Two Novel Members of the Tomato Ethylene-Receptor Family

Denise M. Tieman and Harry J. Klee^*

Horticultural Sciences Department, P.O. Box 110690, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0690

The phytohormone ethylene regulates many aspects of plant growth, development, and environmental responses. Much of the developmental regulation of ethylene responses in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) occurs at the level of hormone sensitivity. In an effort to understand the regulation of ethylene responses, we isolated and characterized tomato genes with sequence similarity to the Arabidopsis ETR1 (ethylene response 1) ethylene receptor. Previously, we isolated three genes that exhibit high similarity to ETR1 and to each other. Here we report the isolation of two additional genes, LeETR4 and LeETR5, that are only 42% and 40% identical to ETR1, respectively. Although the amino acids known to be involved in ethylene binding are conserved, LeETR5 lacks the histidine within the kinase domain that is predicted to be phosphorylated. This suggests that histidine kinase activity is not necessary for an ethylene response, because mutated forms of both LeETR4 and LeETR5 confer dominant ethylene insensitivity in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Expression analysis indicates that LeETR4 accounts for most of the putative ethylene-receptor mRNA present in reproductive tissues, but, like LeETR5, it is less abundant in vegetative tissues. Taken together, ethylene perception in tomato is potentially quite complex, with at least five structurally divergent, putative receptor family members exhibiting significant variation in expression levels throughout development.

Plant Physiol. (1999) 120: 165-172
Copyright Clearance Center:   0032-0889/99/120//08
© 1999 American Society of Plant Physiologists

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Z. Lin, S. Zhong, and D. Grierson Recent advances in ethylene research J. Exp. Bot., June 30, 2009; (2009) erp204v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Lin, L. Arciga-Reyes, S. Zhong, L. Alexander, R. Hackett, I. Wilson, and D. Grierson SlTPR1, a tomato tetratricopeptide repeat protein, interacts with the ethylene receptors NR and LeETR1, modulating ethylene and auxin responses and development J. Exp. Bot., November 1, 2008; 59(15): 4271 - 4287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-r. Yin, K.-s. Chen, A. C. Allan, R.-m. Wu, B. Zhang, N. Lallu, and I. B. Ferguson Ethylene-induced modulation of genes associated with the ethylene signalling pathway in ripening kiwifruit J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2008; 59(8): 2097 - 2108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Zhong, Z. Lin, and D. Grierson Tomato ethylene receptor-CTR interactions: visualization of NEVER-RIPE interactions with multiple CTRs at the endoplasmic reticulum J. Exp. Bot., March 1, 2008; 59(4): 965 - 972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wang and P. P. Kumar Characterization of two ethylene receptors PhERS1 and PhETR2 from petunia: PhETR2 regulates timing of anther dehiscence J. Exp. Bot., February 1, 2007; 58(3): 533 - 544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Tassoni, C. B. Watkins, and P. J. Davies Inhibition of the ethylene response by 1-MCP in tomato suggests that polyamines are not involved in delaying ripening, but may moderate the rate of ripening or over-ripening J. Exp. Bot., September 1, 2006; 57(12): 3313 - 3325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ma, H. Tan, X. Liu, J. Xue, Y. Li, and J. Gao Transcriptional regulation of ethylene receptor and CTR genes involved in ethylene-induced flower opening in cut rose (Rosa hybrida) cv. Samantha J. Exp. Bot., August 1, 2006; 57(11): 2763 - 2773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Barry and J. J. Giovannoni From The Cover: Ripening in the tomato Green-ripe mutant is inhibited by ectopic expression of a protein that disrupts ethylene signaling PNAS, May 16, 2006; 103(20): 7923 - 7928. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.-F. CHEN, N. ETHERIDGE, and G. E. SCHALLER Ethylene Signal Transduction Ann. Bot., May 1, 2005; 95(6): 901 - 915. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z.-G. Zhang, H.-L. Zhou, T. Chen, Y. Gong, W.-H. Cao, Y.-J. Wang, J.-S. Zhang, and S.-Y. Chen Evidence for Serine/Threonine and Histidine Kinase Activity in the Tobacco Ethylene Receptor Protein NTHK2 Plant Physiology, October 1, 2004; 136(2): 2971 - 2981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Giovannoni Genetic Regulation of Fruit Development and Ripening PLANT CELL, June 1, 2004; 16(suppl_1): S170 - S180. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. P. Yau, L. Wang, M. Yu, S. Y. Zee, and W. K. Yip Differential expression of three genes encoding an ethylene receptor in rice during development, and in response to indole-3-acetic acid and silver ions J. Exp. Bot., March 1, 2004; 55(397): 547 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Gao, Y.-F. Chen, M. D. Randlett, X.-C. Zhao, J. L. Findell, J. J. Kieber, and G. E. Schaller Localization of the Raf-like Kinase CTR1 to the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Arabidopsis through Participation in Ethylene Receptor Signaling Complexes J. Biol. Chem., September 5, 2003; 278(36): 34725 - 34732. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. El-Sharkawy, B. Jones, Z. G. Li, J. M. Lelievre, J. C. Pech, and A. Latche Isolation and characterization of four ethylene perception elements and their expression during ripening in pears (Pyrus communis L.) with/without cold requirement J. Exp. Bot., June 1, 2003; 54(387): 1615 - 1625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Rasori, B. Ruperti, C. Bonghi, P. Tonutti, and A. Ramina Characterization of two putative ethylene receptor genes expressed during peach fruit development and abscission J. Exp. Bot., December 1, 2002; 53(379): 2333 - 2339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Moeder, C. S. Barry, A. A. Tauriainen, C. Betz, J. Tuomainen, M. Utriainen, D. Grierson, H. Sandermann, C. Langebartels, and J. Kangasjarvi Ethylene Synthesis Regulated by Biphasic Induction of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Synthase and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Oxidase Genes Is Required for Hydrogen Peroxide Accumulation and Cell Death in Ozone-Exposed Tomato Plant Physiology, December 1, 2002; 130(4): 1918 - 1926. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Leclercq, L. C. Adams-Phillips, H. Zegzouti, B. Jones, A. Latche, J. J. Giovannoni, J.-C. Pech, and M. Bouzayen LeCTR1, a Tomato CTR1-Like Gene, Demonstrates Ethylene Signaling Ability in Arabidopsis and Novel Expression Patterns in Tomato Plant Physiology, November 1, 2002; 130(3): 1132 - 1142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Alexander and D. Grierson Ethylene biosynthesis and action in tomato: a model for climacteric fruit ripening J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2002; 53(377): 2039 - 2055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J. Klee Control of ethylene-mediated processes in tomato at the level of receptors J. Exp. Bot., October 1, 2002; 53(377): 2057 - 2063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Xie, Z.-G. Zhang, J.-S. Zhang, X.-J. He, W.-H. Cao, S.-J. He, and S.-Y. Chen Spatial Expression and Characterization of a Putative Ethylene Receptor Protein NTHK1 in Tobacco Plant Cell Physiol., July 15, 2002; 43(7): 810 - 815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Perin, M. Gomez-Jimenez, L. Hagen, C. Dogimont, J.-C. Pech, A. Latche, M. Pitrat, and J.-M. Lelievre Molecular and Genetic Characterization of a Non-Climacteric Phenotype in Melon Reveals Two Loci Conferring Altered Ethylene Response in Fruit Plant Physiology, May 1, 2002; 129(1): 300 - 309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Shibuya, M. Nagata, N. Tanikawa, T. Yoshioka, T. Hashiba, and S. Satoh Comparison of mRNA levels of three ethylene receptors in senescing flowers of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) J. Exp. Bot., March 1, 2002; 53(368): 399 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Barry, E. A. Fox, H.-c. Yen, S. Lee, T.-j. Ying, D. Grierson, and J. J. Giovannoni Analysis of the Ethylene Response in the epinastic Mutant of Tomato Plant Physiology, September 1, 2001; 127(1): 58 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Terajima, H. Nukui, A. Kobayashi, S. Fujimoto, S. Hase, T. Yoshioka, T. Hashiba, and S. Satoh Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a cDNA for a Novel Ethylene Receptor, NT-ERS1, of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Plant Cell Physiol., March 1, 2001; 42(3): 308 - 313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Hackett, C.-W. Ho, Z. Lin, H. C.C. Foote, R. G. Fray, and D. Grierson Antisense Inhibition of the Nr Gene Restores Normal Ripening to the Tomato Never-ripe Mutant, Consistent with the Ethylene Receptor- Inhibition Model Plant Physiology, November 1, 2000; 124(3): 1079 - 1086. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A. Ciardi, D. M. Tieman, S. T. Lund, J. B. Jones, R. E. Stall, and H. J. Klee Response to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria in Tomato Involves Regulation of Ethylene Receptor Gene Expression Plant Physiology, May 1, 2000; 123(1): 81 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. M. Tieman, M. G. Taylor, J. A. Ciardi, and H. J. Klee The tomato ethylene receptors NR and LeETR4 are negative regulators of ethylene response and exhibit functional compensation within a multigene family PNAS, May 9, 2000; 97(10): 5663 - 5668. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Gamble, X. Qu, and G. E. Schaller Mutational Analysis of the Ethylene Receptor ETR1. Role of the Histidine Kinase Domain in Dominant Ethylene Insensitivity Plant Physiology, April 1, 2002; 128(4): 1428 - 1438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Whitelaw, N. N. Lyssenko, L. Chen, D. Zhou, A. K. Mattoo, and M. L. Tucker Delayed Abscission and Shorter Internodes Correlate with a Reduction in the Ethylene Receptor LeETR1 Transcript in Transgenic Tomato Plant Physiology, March 1, 2002; 128(3): 978 - 987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]