First step towards the biomolecular characterization of Pompia, an endemic Citrus-like fruit from Sardinia (Italy)

Abstract

This study is the first molecular and biochemical analysis conducted on Pompia, a plant of unknown origin that is endemic to Sardinia; this plant is thought to belong to the Citrus genus. Here, genes coding for the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.14.18.1) were identified. We detected the aforementioned enzymes in fresh leaf tissue and assessed the catalytic activity of each to support the molecular and biochemical data. This was the first molecular study to define the primary structure of proteins with antioxidant activity in Pompia. The study also contributed to the enrichment of gene databases and created the basis for molecular phylogenetic studies, which is important because this plant currently has no taxonomic or phylogenetic classification.