Summary: The objectives for this project were: Original Objectives: (1) Determine whether oxidation of a-farnesene to conjugated trienols in apple peel is an enzymatic reaction. (2) Clone the genes for a-farnesene synthase and, if it is proven to exist, a-farnesene oxidase (hydroxylase). Updated Objectives: (1) Confirm putative a-farnesene synthase (a-FS) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR) clones from apple peel by functional expression in E. coli or yeast cells. (2) Determine changes in the level of expression of a-FS and HMGR genes over 0 to 8 weeks of 0 °C air storage in peel tissue from untreated control and 1-MCP-treated apples. (3) Clone ethylene-responsive promoter that controls expression of the a-FS gene and possibly other genes in the a-farnesene biosynthetic pathway during the initial weeks of cold storage.
