Molecular characterization of a miraculin-like gene differentially expressed during coffee development and coffee leaf miner infestation.

The characterization of a coffee gene encoding a protein similar to miraculin-like proteins, which are members of the plant Kunitz serine trypsin inhibitor (STI) family of proteinase inhibitors (PIs), is described. PIs are important proteins in plant defence against insects and in the regulation of proteolysis during plant development. This gene has high identity with the Richadella dulcifica taste-modifying protein miraculin and with the tomato protein LeMir; and was named as CoMir (Coffea miraculin).

Identification of genes responsive to the application of ethanol on sugarcane leaves.

The control of gene expression in precise time and space is a desirable attribute of chemically inducible systems. Ethanol is a chemical inducer with favourable features, such as being inexpensive and easy to apply. The aim of this study was to identify ethanol-responsive genes in sugarcane.