A stress‐, pathogenesis‐, and allergen‐related cDNA in apple fruit is also ripening‐related

Abstract
The screening of a ripe apple (Malus domestica ’Golden Delicious') cDNA expression library with polyclonal antibodies to spinach sucrose‐phosphate synthase resulted in the isolation of a cDNA clone pAP15. This clone encodes a homologue of a class of stress and pathogenesis‐related clones, and is also highly homologous to a class of allergenic proteins from apple without known biological function. The pAP15 cDNA insert is 817 base pairs in length and codes for a protein of 17.5 kD. Genomic Southern analysis suggests that the gene belongs to a family of at least 15 members. Northern analysis indicates that pAP 15 is ripening‐related, with an accumulation ofhomologous mRNA coincident with ethylene production during apple fruit ripening.