Abundance of transcripts specific for genes encoding enzymes of the prechorismate pathway in different organs of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants.

The abundance of transcripts specific for several tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) genes encoding enzymes of the prechorismate pathway was analyzed in different organs of mature plants utilizing a dot-blot assay which was developed for this purpose. The transcript levels were determined for two 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (EC 4.1.2.15), one shikimate kinase (EC 2.7.1.71), one 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.19), and two chorismate synthase (EC 4.6.1.4) genes in leaves, cotyledons, stems, roots, and flowers. These organ-specific expression patterns were compared with that of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5) gene family of tomato.