@article{PAR00007634,
  title = {{M}olecular characterization and functional analysis of the beta-galactosidase gene during {C}offea arabica ({L}.) fruit development},
  author = {{F}igueiredo, {S}. {A}. and {L}ashermes, {P}hilippe and {A}ragao, {F}. {J}. {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {beta-{D}-{G}alactosidase ({EC} 3.2.1.23) has been detected in several plant species, and is characterized in different organs and tissues by its ability to hydrolyse terminal non-reducing beta-{D}-galactosyl residues from beta-{D}-galactoside polymers. {I}n the present paper the cloning and the biochemical and molecular characterization of {C}offea arabica beta-galactosidase expressed in the pericarp and the endosperm of coffee fruits in all phases of ripeness are described. {I}t was found that coffee beta-galactosidase is not evenly transcribed throughout fruit ripening, oscillating with two distinct peaks: the first peak when immature fruits are at the active growing stage and the second when fully developed coffee fruits are completely ripe. {B}oth in vitro enzymatic activity of coffee fruit protein extracts and in vivo histochemical assay of freshly harvested coffee fruits confirmed the uneven transcription of beta-galactosidase as fruit maturation advanced. {P}artial genomic {DNA} sequencing indicated a complex arrangement of nine putative exons. {I}n silico translation of the cloned coding sequences clearly revealed the cloned gene as beta-galactosidase, with the presence of a signal peptide directing the enzyme to the apoplast. {T}wo isoforms were distinguished by sequencing reverse transcription-{PCR} transcripts, one expressed in young and adult leaves and another in stems, petals, and coffee fruit endosperm and pericarp. {S}outhern blot analysis indicates that there are at least two copies of this gene in the {C}. arabica genome that could explain the presence of two beta-galactosidase isoforms.},
  keywords = {{C}ell wall ; {C}offea arabica ; coffee ; fruit ripening ; beta-galactosidase},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {E}xperimental {B}otany},
  volume = {62},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {2691--2703},
  ISSN = {0022-0957},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1093/jxb/erq440},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00007634},
}