Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel gene encoding an EF-hand calcium-binding protein related to fruit seedlessness of grapevine

EF-hand calcium-binding protein (CBP) gene plays a critical role during embryonic development in animals, but it remains unclear whether this gene possesses similar function in plants. In this study, a novel CBP gene was isolated from Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless and designated as VvCBP1. Using a combination of sequence structural investigation, expression pattern analysis of different embryo development in grapevine, and silencing assay of VvCBP1 homolog in tomato, the functional role of VvCBP gene in embryo development of seedless grapevine was studied. Structural investigations showed that VvCBP1 is 907 bp in length, and contains two EF-hand motifs. Expression pattern of this gene is different in embryo between seedless and seeded grapevine species. Moreover, the silencing of homology gene led to the seeds number significantly decreased in tomato. These data demonstrate clearly that VvCBP1 plays an important role in embryo development of seedless grapevine. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.