A serine carboxypeptidase gene (PsCP), expressed in early steps of reproductive and vegetative development in Pisum sativum, is induced by gibberellins

A cDNA clone encoding a serine carboxypeptidase (PsCP), isolated from young fruits of Pisum sativum L., was used to study the temporal and spatial expression and hormonal regulation of serine carboxypeptidase during reproductive and vegetative development. In unpollinated pea ovaries PsCP transcript levels decreased during senescence. However, during early fruit development, PsCP transcript were accumulated in both pericarp and seeds, preferentially in the nucellus, with a polar distribution at the chalazal region of the embryo sac, suggesting a role in seed development. PsCP transcript levels increased also when fruit set was induced in unpollinated ovaries by gibberellins, although the distribution was uniform. PsCP expression was also induced by auxins but not cytokinins, indicating a selective hormonal regulation of PsCP transcription. Localization of PsCP transcript after pollination parallel reported changes in gibberellin distribution, suggesting that PsCP transcription in developing fruits and seeds is induced by gibberellins. PsCP is also expressed in developing seedlings but not in cotyledons, suggesting that it is not involved in the mobilization of storage materials. PsCP transcripts were suppressed by treatment of seedlings with paclobutrazol and restored by gibberellic acid (GA(3)) treatment. In addition, PsCP transcript levels decreased in etiolated pea seedlings when they were exposed to continuous light but not when exposed to light in the presence of GA(3). These results indicate that PsCP transcript accumulation is induced by gibberellins in developing seedlings. This is the first report of a serine carboxypeptidase-like gene induced by gibberellins in reproductive and vegetative developing tissues in dicotyledoneous plants.