Metabolome and proteome of ethylene-treated papayas reveal different pathways to volatile compounds biosynthesis

Author(s)

Der Agopian, Roberta Ghedini ^[1] ; Fabi, Joao Paulo ^{[2, 1]} ; Cordenunsi-Lysenko, Beatriz Rosana ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Food Sci & Expt Nutr, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Food Res Ctr FoRC, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Food Research International; v. 131, MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Papayas undergo fast postharvest changes triggered by the plant hormone ethylene. Some important pathways have been analyzed in limited studies (transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics); however, broad use of proteomics or untargeted metabolomics have not yet been used in papayas. In this study, two groups of green papayas (150 days after anthesis-physiological maturity for papayas) were treated with ethylene at different times (6 and 12 h) and their metabolic changes in fruit pulp were evaluated with untargeted metabolomics (general metabolites and volatile compounds) and proteomics. Polar metabolites exhibited distinct patterns, especially with regard to some amino and fatty acids during stimulated ripening. In particular, glutamate increased through a possible gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt and/or proteases activity. Moreover, the stimulated ripening altered the volatile compounds and the protein profiles. The results suggest that changes in membrane breakdown and the resulting oxidative processes could be responsible for volatile compound production, altering some sensorial qualities of papayas, such as pulp softening and the specific papaya linalool volatile compound increment. Thus, GABA levels could also be a strong biological marker for papaya development and ripening stages. This study applied two ``omic{''} techniques that provided insight into how the plant hormone ethylene could influence papaya postharvest quality. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/15661-8 - Effects of cancer cells treatment with pectins from different plant types
• Grantee: Gabrielle Fernandez Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center
• Grantee: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 12/23970-2 - Biological changes of papaya pectins with possible benefits to human health
• Grantee: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants