Orientador: José Camillo Novello / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T19:34:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gomes_FabianaHelenaForte_M.pdf: 6688953 bytes, checksum: ffe979c84bdddab601e6a550b2872ebb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O Brasil é o maior produtor de citros no mundo, entretanto, várias doenças ameaçam a citricultura brasileira, dentre elas o cancro cítrico, causado pela bactéria Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc). A doença é caracterizada por necrose e lesões eruptivas. Sabe-se que a bactéria transloca proteínas efetoras para o interior da célula hospedeira e modula a transcrição na planta. Dentre as proteínas translocadas está à proteína PthA que por si só é capaz de induzir hiperplasia e hipertrofia tecidual. Em relação aos genes cuja expressão foi induzida pela infecção por X. citri estão àqueles envolvidos na remodelação da parede celular, síntese, mobilização e sinalização de auxina e giberelina, os quais são os principais hormônios vegetais controladores de crescimento celular. Corroborando com isso, tanto auxina como giberelina ativam a expressão de celulases e expansinas e são necessárias para o desenvolvimento do cancro cítrico. Em 2010 demonstrou-se a interação entre PthAs e a proteína ARF ("auxin response fator") de Citrus sinensis (CsARF), um possível repressor da via de auxina. O promotor do gene da expansina de citros (CsEXP), cujo gene foi induzido por X. citri e auxina contêm uma sequência similar aos chamados AuxRe, elementos cis-regulatórios de resposta à auxina, localizado adjacentemente ao provável TATA-"box". Sendo assim, analisou-se a região 5' a montante do gene CsEXP de C. sinensis a fim de saber se este representa de fato o promotor mínimo do gene e se o "box AuxRE-like" funciona como elemento regulatório de resposta à auxina. No ensaio de transformação de CsEXP para ativação do gene repórter GUS, a região promotora foi responsiva à auxina, havendo, portanto uma regulação positiva do gene pelo hormônio. Há uma interação (sinergismo) entre a proteína PthA2 e/ou PthA4 com auxina na regulação da transcrição. Esta região que contém o "box AuxRE-like" possui uma sequência TGTCTA a qual está justaposta ao possível TATA-box no promotor do gene podendo se tratar de uma região de provável co-interação entre as duas proteínas. As proteínas CsARF e PthA2, em ensaios gel "shift", demonstraram afinidade por esta região, o que corrobora com a hipótese de co-interação nessa região. Os resultados demonstram que esta região do DNA mostra se como importante alvo de estudo, envolvendo interações correlacionadas com o desenvolvimento da doença / Abstract: Brazil is the biggest in the world in the citrus production, but many diseases threaten the Brazilian citrus cultivation, among them the citric canker, a disease characterized by hyperplastic lesions on the host surface, having Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) as the causal agent of citrus canker. It is known that the bacterium translocates effector proteins into the host cell to modulate transcription in the plant, including the PthA protein which itself is capable of inducing tissue hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Recently, it was shown that X. citri induces the expression of genes involved in cell wall remodeling, synthesis, mobilization and signaling of auxin and gibberellic acid, main plant hormones controlling cell growth and division. Furthermore, auxin and gibberellin are capable to activate the expression of cellulases and expansins and both of them are necessary for the development of citrus canker. Moreover, we verified the interaction between PthA and the protein ARF (auxin response factor) of Citrus sinensis (CsARF), and that promoter of the gene of expansins citrus (CsExp) it was induced by X. citri and auxin, which contains a sequence similar to known AuxRe, cis-regulatory elements in response to auxin, located adjacent to the probable TATA-box. Therefore, we analyzed the 5' region upstream of the gene CsExp of C. sinensis in order to know if in fact represents the minimal promoter of the gene and if AuxRE-box-like functions as regulatory element in response to auxin._ In the test transformation of CsEXP for activating GUS, the promoter region was responsive to auxin, the results were promising, because the minimal promoter of the gene was responsive to auxin in vivo assays, which have confirmed the activation of the reporter gene by auxin, with therefore an upregulation of the gene by the hormone. There is a synergy between the proteins PthA2 and PthA4 with auxin in the regulation. This region contains the AuxRE-like-box which has a sequence TGTCTA which is juxtaposed to the potential TATA-box within the promoter of the gene, possibly being a region of likely joint-interaction for the two proteins._PthA2 and CsARF Proteins in gel shift tests demonstrated affinity for this region, which could confirms the hypothesis of the region to be a region of jointinteraction. The results were significant and this region of the DNA shown to be an important target for study of interactions likely correlated with the development of the disease / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestra em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Orientador: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T10:25:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alvarez_Javier_D.pdf: 13138837 bytes, checksum: 410e11bd8ba7df37c003fae0919eec2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A doença vassoura de bruxa do cacaueiro, causada pelo fungo Moniliophthora perniciosa tem sido um dos maiores problemas fitopatológicos do hemisfério sul. O fungo tem uma fase biotrófica longa, pouco comum entre fungos com o estilo de vida hemibiotrófico. Este fato sugere que M. perniciosa deve dispor de importantes mecanismos de evasão do sistema de defesa da planta e que estes teriam um papel fundamental para o sucesso da infecção. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste trabalho é entender os mecanismos de supressão envolvidos na resposta de defesa basal da planta. Especificamente, aqueles mecanismos mediados por hormônios que poderiam influenciar na suscetibilidade da planta ao patógeno durante a invasão do M. perniciosa. Com este fim, foram construídas bibliotecas de RNAseq da interação cacau-M. perniciosa durante o inicio da fase assintomática da doença. As bibliotecas representantes desta interação mostraram expressão diferencial de genes relacionados com a sinalização de auxina, mas não foi observado indução de genes da biossíntese planta. Estes dados sugerem a presença de auxina "exógena" produzida provavelmente pelo patógeno. Adicionalmente, foram encontrados genes relacionados com o ácido jasmônico e etileno. Com o intuito de identificar se M. perniciosa era capaz de secretar um composto com função de auxina, sementes de Arabidopsis thaliana foram crescidas em amostras de sobrenadante do fungo. Estes experimentos mostraram alteração da morfologia das raízes semelhantes à adição de auxina exógena. Amostras de sobrenadantes do fungo foram submetidas às técnicas de RMN, LC MS/MS e GC-MS e mostraram a presença de um composto com estrutura semelhante ao indol-3-acetoácido sendo produzido pelo fungo. Estudos do time course de produção deste composto mostraram que a auxina produzida é rapidamente metabolizada formando diferentes derivados indólicos com provável função na patogênese do fungo. Finalmente, encontramos um novo composto com estrutura parecida à auxina e capacidade de indução de genes de resposta a este hormônio. Este trabalho é o primeiro relato a mostrar o time course da síntese de auxina por M. perniciosa e a indução de respostas de sinalização de auxina nos tecidos de cacau infectados pelo fungo. A intervenção nas vias de síntese de auxina pelo fungo seria um caminho plausível na tentativa por conter a doença vassoura de bruxa / Abstract: The witches' broom disease in Cacao is caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa has been one of the most important problems phytopathological in the southern hemisphere. The fungus has an unusual long biotrophic phase with the lifestyle hemibiotrofic suggesting that M. perniciosa must have important evasion mechanisms for breaking of the plant defense system and it would have a key role to success in the infection. Therefore, the aim of this work is to understand some of the mechanisms involved in the suppression of basal defense response of the plant. Specifically, hormones-mediated mechanisms that could influence plant susceptibility to pathogens during the infection of M. perniciosa. For this purpose, RNAseq libraries were constructed of the interaction cacao - M. perniciosa during the asymptomatic phase of the disease. Genes related with the auxin and jasmonic acid signaling and ethylene production were differential expressed during the initial stage of the disease. Furthermore, auxin-responsive genes were induced, but not observed induction of plant biosynthesis genes for this hormone. These data suggest presence of auxin "exogenous" probably produced by the pathogen. In order to identify whether M. perniciosa was able to secrete a compound like an auxin, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were grown in mediums with supernatant of the fungus. These experiments showed alterations on the roots morphology, similar to the addition of exogenous auxin. Samples of supernatants were subjected to the techniques of NMR, LC-MS/MS and GCMS and showed the presence of a compound with a similar structure of Indole-3- Acetic Acid (IAA) being produced by the fungus. A time course of the production of this compound was examinated by LC-MS/MS and showed that the auxin is produced by M. perniciosa, but is rapidly metabolized forming different indole derivatives, some of them with a probable role in the pathogenesis. Finally, we found a new compound with a structure similar to auxin and with the ability to induce gene response to this hormone / Doutorado / Genetica Vegetal / Doutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecular

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the process of vein pattern formation in plant tissues. The most widely accepted amongst biologists is the canalization hypothesis, derived from pea root and stem experiments. According to this hypothesis, a signal, thought to be the phytohormone auxin, is transported polarly from cell to cell from the shoot to the root and is canalized progressively into narrow channels of high auxin fluxes that later differentiate to become vascular tissue. In this project, we set out to test whether auxin canalization drives vein pattern formation, using Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with increased auxin transport (max4-1, max3-9, max2-1 and max1-1). We predicted that the mutants would have distinct vein patterns and especially different angles between the primary and secondary veins, compared to the wild type. First rosette leaves of 15 plants per genotype were harvested for analysis each day from 7 to 17 days after sowing, giving a total of eight hundred twenty-five leaf samples to analyze. Venation patterns were extracted and analyzed using custom-made software written with Matlab. Overall, compared with the wild type, mutants with the highest auxin transport (max4-1 and max3-9) had different vein patterns at early developmental stages, confirming a role for auxin transport in vein patterning. However, veins of mutants and wild type connected at similar angles, which is not consistent with the auxin canalization hypothesis, as originally formulated.

La formation des fruits charnus est un processus de développement impliquant trois stades principaux : (i) la transition fleur/fruit ou nouaison, (ii) la croissance et enfin (iii) la maturation des fruits. Chacune de ces étapes correspond à une transition développementale associée à d’importants changements physiologiques et structurels. Parmi toutes les hormones, l’auxine est connue pour jouer un rôle important dans l‟initiation et la coordination du processus de nouaison et des phases précoces de développement du fruit. La mise en place de la réponse à l‟auxine nécessite l‟intervention de facteurs de transcription appartenant à la famille des ARF (Axin Response Factor) connus pour réguler l‟expression des gènes de réponse précoce à l‟hormone en se liant aux Cis-éléments de type AuxRE (Auxin Response Element) possédant le motif conservé de réponse à l‟auxine. Les ARF sont de ce fait des candidats forts pour faire partie du mécanisme moléculaire par lequel l’auxine intervient dans le processus de nouaison. Le projet de recherche réalisé au cours de la thèse a permis d‟isoler et de caractériser au total 22 gènes Sl-ARF chez la tomate (Solanum lycopersicum), la plante modèle pour l’étude du développement et de la maturation des fruits charnus. Les gènes Sl-ARF montrent des profils d‟expression distincts selon les tissus et organes considérés, suggérant des fonctions spécifiques pour les membres de cette famille multigénique. Il est de plus montré que certains gènes Sl-ARF sont régulés à la fois par l’auxine et par l’éthylène, suggérant qu‟ils participent potentiellement au dialogue entre les voies de signalisation des deux hormones. L’expression transitoire a révélé la capacité des Sl-ARF à agir comme activateur ou répresseur transcriptionnel des gènes de réponse à l’auxine. L‟étude des profils d’expression globale, réalisée par RNA-seq à l‟échelle du génome entier, a révélé pour la première fois l‟existence d‟un niveau important de régulation par épissage alternatif des ARFs pendant la transition fleur-fruit. La localisation nucléaire des protéines Sl-ARF8A / B a été déterminée par fusion avec le gène rapporteur GFP puis expression dans un système "signle cell". L‟étude d’expression a révélé des profils distinctifs entre ARF8A et ARF8B avec une augmentation notable des transcrits Sl-ARF8A suite à la pollinisation des fleurs. Le rôle physiologique du gène Sl-ARF8A a été par la suite abordé par une approche de génétique inverse fournissant un nouvel éclairage sur les événements moléculaires qui sous-tendent la mise à fruit. La surexpression de Sl- ARF8 dans la tomate engendre des phénotypes pléiotropiques touchant la croissance - 4 - végétative (réduction de la taille des plantes, altération du développement racinaire et des tiges latérales) et l‟appareil reproducteur avec la formation de fruits parthénocarpiques (absence de graines). L’analyse histologique a révélé une modification notable du placenta et des ovules chez les lignées de sur-expression de Sl-ARF8 et les études par RNA-Seq ont identifié plus de 2632 gènes différentiellement exprimés chez les surexpresseurs par comparaison avec les lignées non transformées. Au total, l‟étude réalisée au cours de la thèse fournit une description exhaustive de la famille des ARF chez la tomate et une caractérisation fonctionnelle du gène Sl-ARF8 qui souligne son rôle comme figure centrale du mécanisme de contrôle de la nouaison des fruits. / The making of a fleshy fruit is a developmental process involving three main stages known as (i) fruit set, (ii) fruit growth and (ii) fruit ripening each corresponding to a transition step associated with major physiological and structural changes. Among other hormones, auxin is known to play a dynamic role in triggering and coordinating the changes associated with the process of fruit set and early fruit development. Auxin responses are mediated at the transcriptional level by Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) which regulate early auxin-responsive genes by specific binding to TGTCTC Auxin Response Elements (AuxREs). ARFs are therefore good candidates for being among the components of the molecular mechanism by which auxin mediates the fruit set. In the present study, a total of 22 Sl-ARF genes have been isolated and characterized in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a model plant for the study of fleshy fruit development and ripening. Expression profiling revealed distinctive patterns for Sl-ARF genes in different tomato tissues. Hormone treatment indicated that Sl-ARFs can be regulated both by auxin and ethylene with Sl-ARF2B, 5 and 9 likely to be involved in the cross-talk between the two hormones. Transient expression using a single cell system uncovered the ability of Sl- ARFs to act either as transcriptional activator or repressor in regulating the expression of auxin-responsive genes. Genome-wide expression profiling performed by deep RNASequencing revealed for the first time the importance of the alternative splicing mode of regulation of ARF genes during tomato fruit set. The physiological significance of two closely related Sl-ARFs, Sl-ARF8A and Sl-ARF8B, was addressed in the present study via a reverse genetics approach providing new insight on the molecular events underlying tomato fruit set. Fusion to GFP reporter gene indicated that both Sl-ARF8A/B proteins are nuclear localized. Expression analysis by RT-qPCR revealed some distinctive features between Sl-ARF8A and Sl-ARF8B with a notable increase in Sl-ARF8A transcript upon flower pollination. Over-expression of Sl-ARF8A/B in tomato resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes, including dwarf plants, altered root and lateral shoot development and parthenocarpic fruits (seedless). Histological analysis revealed altered placenta and ovules development in SlARF8A-OX flowers and RNA-Seq profiling identified over 2632 differentially expressed (DE) genes in SlARF8A-OX flower buds compared to wild type control plants. Considering the dramatic change in gene expression of genes related to auxin, jasmonate and ethylene displayed in SlARF8A-OX lines, these phytohormones are likely to play an active role in coordinating the fruit set process. Altogether, the present - 6 - study provided a comphensive description of the tomato ARF gene family and a functional characterization of Sl-ARF8 defining this ARF member as a central figure of the control mechanism of the fruit set process.

Seed companies have developed novel weed control technologies to combat herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds based on the use of new genetically-modified (GM) crop cultivars and auxin herbicide formulations. These herbicides can variably affect the growth and yield of susceptible cotton even at low concentrations depending on growth stage at exposure. As such, research was conducted in each of two locations in Mississippi in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to determine the cotton growth stage most susceptible to injury and yield effects from simulated misapplications of sub-lethal 2,4-D or dicamba concentrations. Results indicate that generally a decrease in yield partitioned on lower nodes and inner positions was accompanied by a compensatory increase in yield partitioned on vegetative branches and aborted terminals. However, the magnitude of these yield effects differed based on growth stage at exposure and based on which herbicide was used.

During embryogenesis and post-embryonic patterning, active transport of the phytohormone auxin, reflected in the expression of the Arabidopsis PIN family of auxin efflux mediators, generates local auxin distributions that are crucial for correct organ and tissue specification. Polar auxin transport routes have also long been postulated to regulate vein formation in the leaf. The molecular identification of PIN proteins has made it possible to investigate this hypothesis further by visualizing auxin transport routes in developing leaves. In Arabidopsis leaf primordia, PIN1 is expressed before the earliest known markers of vascular identity, in domains that are gradually restricted to sites of vein formation. PIN1 polarity indicates that auxin is directed towards distinct “convergence points” (CPs) in the marginal epidermis, from which it defines the sites of major vein formation. Within incipient veins, PIN1 polarity indicates drainage of auxin into preexisting veins, such that veins connected at both ends display two divergent polarities. Local auxin application triggers the formation of ectopic CPs and new veins, demonstrating the sufficiency of auxin as a vein-specifying signal. However, not all PIN1-labeled auxin transport routes differentiate as veins: Minor veins are initially unstable, suggesting local competition for auxin transport. Expression of ATHB8, a marker of vascular cell selection, correlates with enhanced PIN1 expression domain (PED) stability and vascular differentiation. Auxin application and auxin transport inhibition reveal that both CP formation in the epidermis and subepidermal PED dynamics are auxin-dependent and self-organizing. Furthermore, normal auxin perception through the ARF-Aux/IAA signaling pathway is required for the restriction of PIN1-mediated auxin transport to narrow subepidermal domains. ARF-Aux/IAA signaling is known to control auxin transport through the regulation of PIN1 dynamics, but the mechanism of this regulation is unclear. It is here shown that two redundantly acting AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription factors, ARF5/MONOPTEROS (MP) and ARF7/NPH4, jointly regulate both PIN1 expression and localization during lateral root patterning in Arabidopsis, in part through the direct transcriptional activation of PIN1 by MP. Taken together, these results indicate that feedback between PIN-mediated auxin transport and ARF-Aux/IAA signaling regulates the patterning of root and shoot organs.

During embryogenesis and post-embryonic patterning, active transport of the phytohormone auxin, reflected in the expression of the Arabidopsis PIN family of auxin efflux mediators, generates local auxin distributions that are crucial for correct organ and tissue specification. Polar auxin transport routes have also long been postulated to regulate vein formation in the leaf. The molecular identification of PIN proteins has made it possible to investigate this hypothesis further by visualizing auxin transport routes in developing leaves. In Arabidopsis leaf primordia, PIN1 is expressed before the earliest known markers of vascular identity, in domains that are gradually restricted to sites of vein formation. PIN1 polarity indicates that auxin is directed towards distinct “convergence points” (CPs) in the marginal epidermis, from which it defines the sites of major vein formation. Within incipient veins, PIN1 polarity indicates drainage of auxin into preexisting veins, such that veins connected at both ends display two divergent polarities. Local auxin application triggers the formation of ectopic CPs and new veins, demonstrating the sufficiency of auxin as a vein-specifying signal. However, not all PIN1-labeled auxin transport routes differentiate as veins: Minor veins are initially unstable, suggesting local competition for auxin transport. Expression of ATHB8, a marker of vascular cell selection, correlates with enhanced PIN1 expression domain (PED) stability and vascular differentiation. Auxin application and auxin transport inhibition reveal that both CP formation in the epidermis and subepidermal PED dynamics are auxin-dependent and self-organizing. Furthermore, normal auxin perception through the ARF-Aux/IAA signaling pathway is required for the restriction of PIN1-mediated auxin transport to narrow subepidermal domains. ARF-Aux/IAA signaling is known to control auxin transport through the regulation of PIN1 dynamics, but the mechanism of this regulation is unclear. It is here shown that two redundantly acting AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription factors, ARF5/MONOPTEROS (MP) and ARF7/NPH4, jointly regulate both PIN1 expression and localization during lateral root patterning in Arabidopsis, in part through the direct transcriptional activation of PIN1 by MP. Taken together, these results indicate that feedback between PIN-mediated auxin transport and ARF-Aux/IAA signaling regulates the patterning of root and shoot organs.

PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins are plant-specific secondary transporters acting in the efflux of plant signaling molecule auxin from cells. Their asymmetrical localization within cells determines the directionality of auxin flow and thereby influences plant development. The activity of PIN proteins is regulated at multiple levels; however the primary step in the regulation of PIN proteins takes place at the level of gene transcription. Therefore the main focus of this diploma thesis is the characterization of the transcriptional regulation of PIN proteins, namely PIN4 protein. The observation of plants carrying transcriptional fusion consisting of various lengths of PIN4 promoter and green fluorescent protein (GFP) showed which part of PIN4 promoter is essential for binding transcription factors and for the start of transcription. This part of PIN4 promoter was used as bait for transcription factors in yeast one hybrid screens. Altogether, 24 transcription factors were identified in which the most numerous were transcription factors from GATA and APETALA2 (AP2)/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) families. To verify the interactions between identified transcription factors and PIN4 promoter, the protoplast transient expression assay was used. Protoplasts isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and tobacco BY-2 cell...

<p>The actin cytoskeleton is required for cell expansion and is implicated in cellular responses to the plant growth hormone auxin. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that coordinate auxin signaling, cytoskeletal remodeling, and cell expansion are poorly understood. Previous studies have examined actin cytoskeleton responses to long-term auxin treatment, but plants respond to auxin over short timeframes, and growth changes within minutes of exposure to the hormone. To correlate actin arrays with degree of cell expansion, we used quantitative imaging tools to establish a baseline of actin organization, as well as of individual filament behaviors in root epidermal cells under control conditions and after treatment with a known inhibitor of root growth, the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). We found that cell length was highly predictive of actin array in control roots, and that short-term IAA treatment stimulated denser, more longitudinal, and more parallel arrays by inducing filament unbundling within minutes. By demonstrating that actin filaments were more “organized” after a treatment that stopped elongation, we show there is no direct relationship between actin organization and cell expansion and refute the hypothesis that “more organized” actin universally correlates with more rapidly growing root cells. The plasma membrane-bound auxin transporter AUXIN RESISTANT 1 (AUX1) has previously been shown necessary for archetypal short-term root growth inhibition in the presence of IAA. Although AUX1 was not previously suspected of being upstream of cytoskeletal responses to IAA, we used <i>aux1</i>mutants to demonstrate that AUX1 is necessary for the full complement of actin rearrangements in response to auxin, and that cytoplasmic auxin in the form of the membrane permeable auxin 1‑naphthylacetic acid (NAA) is sufficient to stimulate a partial actin response. Together, these results are the first to quantitate actin cytoskeleton response to short-term auxin treatments and demonstrate that AUX1 is necessary for short-term actin remodeling.</p>

O amadurecimento dos frutos é um processo caracterizado pela ocorrência de diversas alterações bioquímicas que ocorrem em um curto intervalo de tempo e que são importantes para a qualidade desses alimentos. Na banana uma das características mais importantes é o adoçamento do fruto, que ocorre como resultado da degradação do amido e acúmulo de sacarose. Resultados do nosso grupo apontam a &#946;-amilase como uma enzima importante no processo de mobilização do amido, o que também é visto em estudos recentes utilizando Arabidopsis thaliana como modelo, os quais mostram que a principal via de degradação do amido transitório presente nas folhas ocorre pela ação da &#946;-amilase. Entretanto, em bananas, faltam evidências quanto à funcionalidade de um gene de &#946;-amilase, parcialmente isolado da polpa do fruto, e que é expresso durante o amadurecimento e que parece ser modulado por hormônios vegetais. Em vista disso, esse trabalho objetivou realizar a caracterização funcional desse gene, a qual permitiu constatar que esse gene codifica, de fato, para uma proteína capaz de ser endereçada aos cloroplastos. Também foi observado que o promotor desse gene contém motivos regulatórios para os mesmos hormônios previamente relacionados com a modulação da expressão desse gene em bananas. Essas novas evidências reforçam a idéia de que o produto desse gene de &#946;-amilase tem um importante papel no processo de degradação do amido durante o amadurecimento da banana. / Fruit ripening is characterized by several biochemical changes that occur in a short time. These changes account for the color, taste and texture of the edible fruits, which are important postharvest characteristics for the fruit commercialization. In bananas, one of the most important features is the fruit sweetness which is the result of the starch degradation and sucrose accumulation. Results of our research group point &#946;-amylase as an important enzyme in starch degradation process in bananas which is in agreement to recent studies using Arabidopsis thaliana as plant model. These studies show that the main degradation pathway of the transitory starch present in leaves on Arabidopsis plants occurs due &#946;-amylase action. However, in bananas there are no evidences about the functionality of the expression product of a &#946;-amylase gene, which was demonstrated to be modulated by plant hormones and expressed during ripening. In view of this, the aim of this work was to proceed the functional characterization of this gene which was showed to encode for an protein targeted to chloroplasts. It was also observed that its promoter region contains regulatory motifs related to the same plant hormones previously reported to modulate &#946;-amylase expression. These new evidences support the idea that expression of &#946;-amylase gene has an important role in starch degradation during banana ripening.