Isolation and Expression Analysis of a Gene Encoding a Vacuolar-type Water Channel Protein in Peach Fruit.

A cDNA clone, Pr-gTIP1, encoding a water channel protein was isolated from the mesocarp tissue of peach fruits (Prunus persica Batsch). The deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA was highly homologous to those of tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) isolated from other plants ; it contained two NPA (asparagine, proline and alanine) motifs, that are part of the pore structure of water channels. Genome gel DNA blot analysis indicates that the gene exists in the peach genome as a single copy. RNA gel blot analysis reveals that Pr-gTIP1 is expressed at an early and late stages of fruit development.