Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (8): 267-275.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0388

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Expression and Enzyme Activity Identification of Cell Wall Invertase Gene SmCWIN6 from Red Pitaya

ZHENG Qian-ming1,2(), YAN Shuang1,3, XIE Pu1, WANG Hong-lin1,2   

  1. 1.Guizhou Institute of Pomology Science, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006
    2.Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Germplasm Innovation in Karst Region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006
    3.Guizhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding for Characteristic Horticultural Crops, Guiyang 550006
  • Received:2025-04-13 Online:2025-08-26 Published:2025-08-14
  • Contact: ZHENG Qian-ming E-mail:zqm851015@163.com

Abstract:

Objective Cell wall invertase (CWIN) degrades sucrose into glucose and fructose, and acts as the key enzyme for sugar metabolism in higher plants. The physiological functions of CWINs in soluble sugar metabolism of red pitaya (Selenicereusmonacanthus) fruit were investigated, which provides a basis for regulating and improving fruit flavor and quality. Method Total protein from adult stem tissues and fruit pulp at various developmental stages was extracted to detect the CWIN enzyme activity; the sequence domains of SmCWIN family were analyzed; the expression patterns of SmCWINs in flower, stem, fruit peel and pulp tissues were detected by gene digital expression profiles and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The subcellular localization of SmCWIN6 was detected by transiently transformed in tobacco mesophyll cells. By expressed in the baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and then total protein was extracted, the enzyme activity of SmCWIN6 was analyzed in vitro. Result The CWIN enzyme activity in adult stems of red pitaya was low, reached highest at 23 d after pollination in fruit, and then decreased significantly with fruit ripening. Of the red pitaya SmCWIN family, only SmCWIN6 contained domains and conserved amino acid residues related to sucrose degradation. SmCWIN6 was the only CWIN member that expressed in fruits and mainly expressed at 20-25 d after pollination; after then gradually down-regulated with fruit development, and weakly expressed at fruit ripening (30 d after pollination). Subcellular localization assay together with the plasmolysis experiment showed that SmCWIN6 protein was located into the apoplast space, possibly in the cell wall. After been expressed by yeast cells and detected in vitro, the SmCWIN6 protein degraded sucrose into glucose and fructose with the maximum enzyme activity at pH=3.0. Conclusion Red pitaya SmCWIN6 degrades sucrose to produce glucose and fructose in the apoplast, is expressed at 20-25 d after pollination in fruits, and involved in the extracellular soluble sugars metabolism during fruit development.

Key words: pitaya, cell wall invertase, apoplast, yeast expression, sucrose degradation