Isolation and Characterization of a Gene Encoding Hexokinase from Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

Hexokinase is the first enzyme in the hexose assimilation pathway; it acts as a sensor for plant sugar responses, and it is also important in determining the fruit sugar levels. The full-length cDNA of a hexokinase gene was isolated from loquat through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends, which was designated as EjHXK1. EjHXK1 is 1,839 bp long and contains an entire open reading frame encoding 497 amino acids. The predicted protein of EjHXK1 shares 72%-81% similarity with other plant hexokinases. Phylogeny analysis indicated that EjHXK1 is closely related to maize and rice hexokinases. Transient expression of the 35S: EjHXK1-GFP fusion protein was observed on the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Real-time RT-PCR indicated that EjHXK1 is expressed in loquat leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits. EjHXK1 transcripts were higher during early fruit development, but decreases before maturation, which is consistent with hexokinase enzyme activity during fruit development and conducive for hexose accumulation in mature fruits. These results imply that EjHXK1 may play important roles in the regulation of sugar flux during fruit ripening.