Melon ascorbate oxidase: cloning of a multigene family, induction during fruit development and repression by wounding.

A small family of at least four genes encoding melon ascorbate oxidase (AO) has been identified and three members of it have been cloned. Preliminary DNA sequence determination suggested that melon AO genes code for enzymes homologous to ascorbate oxidases from other plants and similar to other multicopper oxidases. We describe detailed molecular studies addressing melon AO expression during organ specific differentiation, fruit development and ripening, and in response to wounding.