A full-length cDNA clone from mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit has homology to the rab11/YPT3 class of small GTPases. The corresponding mRNA is expressed in fruit, only during ripening. The likely involvement of this RabX protein in trafficking cell-wall modifying enzymes through the trans-Golgi network is discussed.

A cDNA clone from tomato fruit encodes a protein with strong homology with the rab11/YPT3 class of small GTPases that is thought to be involved in the control of protein trafficking within cells. The gene, LeRab11a , showed a pattern consistent with a single copy in DNA gel blots. The corresponding mRNA was developmentally regulated during fruit ripening, and its expression was inhibited in several ripening mutants. Its reduced expression in the Never-ripe mutant indicates that it may be induced by ethylene in fruit. The ripening-induced expression in tissues that are undergoing cell wall loosening immediately suggests a possible role in trafficking of cell wall-modifying enzymes. The message also was produced in leaves and flowers but not in roots. Antisense transformation was used to generate a "mutant phenotype." Antisense fruit changed color as expected but failed to soften normally. This was accompanied by reduced levels of two cell wall hydrolases, pectinesterase and polygalacturonase. There were other phenotypic effects in the plants, including determinate growth, reduced apical dominance, branched inflorescences, abnormal floral structure, and ectopic shoots on the leaves. In some plants, ethylene production was reduced. These data suggest an alternative or additional role in exocytosis or endocytosis of homeotic proteins, hormone carriers, or receptors.

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Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of indica rice is undoubtedly a challenging task due to the rice recalcitrant nature to transformation process. Therefore, optimization of the transformation protocol is important for specific indica rice cultivar to ensure effectiveness of the transformation. In this study, crucial parameters affecting Agrobacteriummediated transformation were optimized to obtain transgenic rice of local rice cultivar (indica MR219). Embryogenic calli were chosen for inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring a binary vector pH2GW7-ABP57 containing gene of interest, Auxin binding protein 57 (Abp57). The parameters that have been optimized were the immersion time, co-cultivation period, acetosyringone concentration and co-cultivation temperature. A total of four days co-cultivation period and 30 min immersion of embryogenic callus are optimum for the transformation of MR219 with transformation efficiency of 26.4% and 16.0%, respectively. Acetosyringone at 200 μM and co-cultivation at 28°C also gave the highest transformation efficiency (14.4 and 18.4%, respectively). Meanwhile, inclusion of 20 g/L maltose+20 g/L sorbitol into the regeneration media has significantly improve the transformed somatic embryos growth and increase the regeneration efficiency up to 40.0%. The results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated that the transgene was successfully integrated and overexpressed in transgenic rice of MR219. In conclusion, significant improvement in transformation efficiency for rice cv. MR219 has been obtained by using the optimised protocol for transformation and regeneration developed in this study.