During seedling establishment, cotyledons of the rain forest tree Hymenaea courbaril mobilize storage cell wall xyloglucan to sustain growth. The polysaccharide is degraded and its products are transported to growing sink tissues. Auxin from the shoot controls the level of xyloglucan hydrolytic enzymes. It is not yet known how important the expression of these genes is for the control of storage xyloglucan degradation. In this work, partial cDNAs of the genes xyloglucan transglycosylase hydrolase (HcXTH1) and β-galactosidase (HcBGAL1), both related to xyloglucan degradation, and two other genes related to sucrose metabolism [alkaline invertase (HcAlkIN1) and sucrose synthase (HcSUS1)], were isolated. The partial sequences were characterized by comparison with sequences available in the literature, and phylogenetic trees were assembled. Gene expression was evaluated at intervals of 6h during 24h in cotyledons, hypocotyl, roots, and leaves, using 45-d-old plantlets. HcXTH1 and HcBGAL1 were correlated to xyloglucan degradation and responded to auxin and light, being down-regulated when transport of auxin was prevented by N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and stimulated by constant light. Genes related to sucrose metabolism, HcAlkIN1 and HcSUS1, responded to inhibition of auxin transport in consonance with storage mobilization in the cotyledons. A model is proposed suggesting that auxin and light are involved in the control of the expression of genes related to storage xyloglucan mobilization in seedlings of H. courbaril. It is concluded that gene expression plays a role in the control of the intercommunication system of the source-sink relationship during seeding growth, favouring its establishment in the shaded environment of the rain forest understorey.60411911206Abel, S., Theologis, A., Early genes and auxin action (1996) Plant Physiology, 111, pp. 9-17Akamatsu, T., Hanzawa, Y., Ohtake, Y., Takahashi, T., Nishitani, K., Komeda, Y.Y., Expression of endoxyloglucan transferase genes in acaulis mutants of Arabidopsis (1999) Plant Physiology, 121, pp. 715-722Alabbadí, D., Gil, J., Blázquez, M.A., García- Martínez, J.L., Gibberellins repress photomorphogenesis in darkness (2004) Plant Physiology, 134, pp. 1050-1057Alcântara PHN. 2000. Isolamento e caracterizaçã eo das enzimas xiloglucano endotransglicosilase e β-galactosidase do catabolismo do xiloglucano de reserva dos cotilédones de Hymenaea courbaril L. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae). PhD thesis. Federal University of Sãeo Paulo (UNIFESP), Sãeo Paulo, BrazilAlcântara, P.H.N., Dietrich, S.M.C., Buckeridge, M.S., Xyloglucan mobilisation and purification of a (XLLG/XLXG) specific β-galactosidase from cotyledons of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Leguminosae) (1999) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 37, pp. 1-11Alcântara, P.H.N., Martin, L., Silva, C.O., Dietrich, S.M.C., Buckeridge, M.S., Purification of a β-galactosidase from cotyledons of Hymenaea courbaril L. (Leguminosae). Enzyme properties and biological function (2006) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 44, pp. 619-627Amaral LIV. 2005. Metabolismo de carboidratos estruturais e de reserva em cotilédones de Hymenaea courbaril L var. stilbocarpa (Jatobá). PhD Thesis University of Sãeo Paulo, Department of Botany, Sãeo Paulo, BrazilAmor, Y., Haigler, C.H., Johnson, S., Wainscott, M., Delmer, D.P., A membrane-associated form of SuSy and its potential role in synthesis of cellulose and callose in plants (1995) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 92, pp. 9353-9357Braam, J., Davis, R.W., Rain-, wind-, and touch-induced expression of calmodulin and calmodulin-related genes in Arabidopsis (1990) Cell, 60, pp. 357-364Buckeridge, M.S., Carpita, N.C., Vergara, C., The mechanism of synthesis of a cereal mixed-linkage (1,3), (1,4)-β-D-glucan: Evidence for multiple sites of glucosyl transfer in the synthase complex (1999) Plant Physiology, 120, pp. 1105-1116Buckeridge, M.S., Crombie, H.J., Mendes, C.J.M., Reid, J.S.G., Gidley, M.J., Vieira, C.J., A new family of xyloglucan oligosaccharides from cotyledons of Hymenaea courbaril: Structure determination of the oligosaccharide XXXXG by enzymatic sequencing (1997) Carbohydrate Research, 303, pp. 233-237Buckeridge, M.S., Dietrich, S.M.C., Galactomannans from Brazilian legume seeds (1990) Revista Brasileira de Botanica, 13, pp. 109-112Buckeridge, M.S., Reid, J.S.G., Purification and properties of a novel β-galactosidase or exo-β-(1,4)-galactanase from the cotyledons of germinated Lupinus angustifolius L. seeds (1994) Planta, 192, pp. 502-511Buckeridge, M.S., Rocha, D.C., Reid, J.S.G., Dietrich, S.M.C., Xyloglucan structure and post-germinative metabolism in seeds of Copaifera langsdorffii from savannah and forest populations (1992) Physiologia Plantarum, 86, pp. 145-151Buckeridge, M.S., Tiné, M.A.S., Lima, D.U., Santos, H.P., Mobilisation of storage cell wall polysaccharides in seeds (2000) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 38, pp. 141-156Carabelli, M., Morelli, G., Whitelam, G., Ruberti, I., Twilight-zone and canopy shade induction of the ATHB-2 homeobox gene in green plants (1996) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 93, pp. 3530-3535Catalá, C., Rose, J.K.C., Bennett, A.B., Auxin regulation and spatial localization of an endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase and a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase in expanding tomato hypocotyls (1997) The Plant Journal, 12, pp. 417-426Catalá, C., Rose, J.K.C., Bennett, A.B., Auxin-regulated genes encoding cell wall modifying proteins are expressed during early tomato fruit growth (2000) Plant Physiology, 122, pp. 527-534Catalá, C., Rose, J.K.C., York, W.S., Albersheim, P., Darvill, A.G., Bennett, A.B., Characterization of a tomato xyloglucan endotransglycosylase gene that is down-regulated by auxin in etiolated hypocotyls (2001) Plant Physiology, 127, pp. 1180-1192Cosgrove, D.J., Wall extensibility: Its nature, measurement and relationship to plant cell growth (1993) New Phytologist, 124, pp. 1-23Cui, D., Neill, S.J., Tang, Z., Cai, W., Gibberellin-regulated XET is differentially induced by auxin in rice leaf sheath bases during gravitropic bending (2005) Journal of Experimental Botany, 56, pp. 1327-1334Daohong W, Bochu W, Biao L, Chuanren D, Jin Z. 2004. Extraction of total RNA from Chrysanthemum containing hight levels of phenolic and carbohydrates. Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biosurfaces 36, 111-114Davies, C., Boss, P.K., Robinson, S.P., Treatment of grape berries, a nonclimacteric fruit, with a synthetic auxin retards ripening and alters the expression of developmentally regulated genes (1997) Plant Physiology, 115, pp. 1155-1161De Silva, J., Jarman, C.D., Arrowsmith, D.A., Stronach, M.S., Sidebottom, C., Reid, J.S.G., Molecular characterisation of a xyloglucan specific endo 1,4-β-d glucanase (xyloglucan endo-trans-glycosylase) from nasturtium seeds (1993) The Plant Journal, 3, pp. 701-711Esteban, R., Dopico, B., Muñoz, F.J., Romo, S., Martín, I., Labrador, E., Cloning of a Cicer arietinum β-galactosidase with pectindegrading function (2003) Plant and Cell Physiology, 44, pp. 718-725Fanutti, C., Gidley, M.J., Reid, J.S.G., Action of a pure xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase (formerly called xyloglucan-specific endo-(1,4)-β-D- glucanase) from the cotyledons of germinated nasturtion seeds (1993) The Plant Journal, 3, pp. 691-700Fry, S.C., York, W.S., Albersheim, P., An unambiguous nomenclature for xyloglucan-derived oligosaccharides (1993) Plant Physiology, 89, pp. 1-3Gerhardt, K., Tree seedling development in tropical dry abandoned pasture and secondary forest in Costa Rica (1993) Journal of Vegetation Science, 4, pp. 95-102Gesteira, A.S., Micheli, F., Ferreira, C.F., Cascardo, C.M., Isolation and purification of functional total RNA from different organs of cacao tree during its interaction with the pathogen Crinipellis perniciosa (2003) Biotechnology, 35, pp. 494-500Goda, H., Sawa, S., Asami, T., Fujioka, S., Shimada, Y., Yoshida, S., Comprehensive comparison of auxin-regulated and brassinosteroid-regulated genes in Arabidopsis (2004) Plant Physiology, 134, pp. 1-19Gray, W.M., Ostin, A., Sandberg, G., Romano, C.P., Estelle, M., High temperature promotes auxin-mediated hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis (1998) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 95, pp. 7197-7202Hohnjec, N., Becker, J.D., Puhler, A., Perlick, A.M., Kuster, H., Genomic organization and expression properties of the MtSucS1 gene, which encodes a nodule-enhanced sucrose synthase in the model legume Medicago truncatula (1999) Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 261, pp. 514-522Hyodo, H., Yamakawa, S., Takeda, Y., Tsuduki, M., Yokota, A., Nishitani, K., Kohchi, T., Active gene expression of a xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/ hydrolase gene, XTH9, in inflorescence apices is related to cell elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana (2003) Plant Molecular Biology, 54, pp. 473-482IIiev, E.A., Xu, W., Polisensky, D.H., OH, M., Torisky, R.S., Clouse, S.D., Braam, J., Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of Arabidopsis TCH4 expression by diverse stimuli. Roles of cis regions and brassinosteroids (2002) Plant Physiology, 130, pp. 1-14Jones, D.T., Taylor, W.R., Thornton, J.M., The rapid generation of mutation data matrices from protein sequences (1992) Computer Applications in the Biosciences, 8, pp. 275-282Koch, K.E., Nolte, K.D., Duke, E.R., McCarty, D.R., Avigne, W.T., Sugar levels modulate differential expression of maize sucrose synthase genes (1992) The Plant Cell, 4, pp. 59-69Lee, Y.T., Langenheim, J.H., A systematic revision of the genus Hymenaea (LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideaeDetarieae) (1975) University of California Publications in Botany, 69, pp. 1-109Levy, S., Maclachlan, G., Staehelin, L.A., Xyloglucan side chains modulate binding to cellulose during in vitro binding assays as predicted by conformational dynamics simulations (1997) The Plant Journal, 11, pp. 373-386Liscum, E., Reed, J.W., Genetics of Aux/IAA and ARF action in plant growth and development (2002) Plant Molecular Biology, 49, pp. 387-400Nakamura, T., Yokoyama, R., Tomita, E., Nishitani, K., Two azuki bean XTH genes, VaXTH1 and VaXTH2, with similar tissue-specific expression profiles are differently regulated by auxin (2003) Plant and Cell Physiology, 44, pp. 16-24Nakazawa, M., Yabe, N., Ichikawa, T., Yamamoto, Y.Y., Yoshizumi, T., Hasunuma, K., Matsui, M., DFL1, an auxin-responsive GH3 gene homologue, negatively regulates shoot cell elongation and lateral root formation, and positively regulates the light response of hypocotyl length (2001) The Plant Journal, 25, pp. 213-221Neff, M.M., Nguyen, S.M., Malancharuvil, E.J., BAS1: A gene regulating brassinosteroid levels and light responsiveness in Arabidopsis (1999) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 96, pp. 15316-15323Nishitani, K., The role of endoxyloglucan transferase in the organization of plant cell walls (1997) International Review of Cytology, 173, pp. 157-206Nishitani, K., Endo-xyloglucan transferase, a new class of transferase involved in cell wall construction (1995) Journal of Plant Research, 108, pp. 137-148Nishitani, K., Masuda, Y., Auxin-induced changes in the cell wall structure: Changes in the sugar compositions, intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight distributions of matrix polysaccharides of the epicotyl cell wall of Vigna angularis (1981) Physiologia Plantarum, 52, pp. 482-494Okazawa, K., Sato, Y., Nakagawa, T., Asada, K., Kato, I., Tomita, E., Nishitani, K., Molecular cloning and cDNA sequencing of endoxyloglucan transferase, a novel class of glycosyltransferase that mediates molecular grafting between matrix polysaccharides in plant cell walls (1993) Journal of Biological Chemistey, 268, pp. 25364-25368Osato, Y., Yokoyama, R., Nishitani, K., A principal role for AtXTH18 in Arabidopsis thaliana root growth: A functional analysis using RNAi plants (2006) Journal of Plant Research, 119, pp. 153-162Rampey, R.A., LeClere, S., Kowalczyk, M., Ljung, K., Sandberg, G., Bartel, B., A family of auxin-conjugate hydrolases that contributes to free indole-3-acetic acid levels during Arabidopsis germination (2004) Plant Physiology, 135, pp. 978-988Reed, J.W., Roles and activities of Aux/IAA proteins in Arabidopsis (2001) Trends in Plant Science, 6, pp. 420-425Romano, C.P., Robson, P.R.H., Smith, H., Estelle, M., Klee, H., Transgene-mediated auxin overproduction in Arabidopsis: Hypocotyl elongation phenotype and interactions with the hy6-1 hypocotyl elongation and axr1 auxin-resistant mutants (1995) Plant Molecular Biology, 27, pp. 1071-1083Rose, J.K., Brummell, D.A., Bennett, A.B., Two divergent xyloglucan endotransglycosylases exhibit mutually exclusive patterns of expression in nasturtium (1998) Plant Physiology, 110, pp. 493-499Ruan, Y.L., Chourey, P.S., Delmer, D.P., Perez-Grau, L., The differential expression of sucrose synthase in relation to diverse patterns of carbon partitioning in developing cotton seed (1997) Plant Physiology, 115, pp. 375-385Saitou, N., Nei, M., The neighbor-joining method: A new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees (1987) Molecular Biology and Evolution, 4, pp. 406-425Santos, H.P., Buckeridge, M.S., The role of the storage carbon of cotyledons in the establishment of seedlings of Hymenaea courbaril L. under different light conditions (2004) Annals of Botany, 94, pp. 819-830Santos, H.P., Purgatto, E., Mercier, H., Buckeridge, M.S., The control of storage xyloglucan mobilisation in cotyledons of Hymenaea courbaril L (2004) Plant Physiology, 135, pp. 287-299Schindler, T., Bergfeld, R., Schopfer, P., Arabinogalactan proteins in maize coleoptiles: Developmental relationship to cell death during xylem differentiation but not to extension growth (1995) The Plant Journal, 7, pp. 25-36Smith, D.L., Gross, K.C., A family of at least seven β-galactosidase genes is expressed during tomato fruit development (2000) Plant Physiology, 123, pp. 1173-1183Souza, R.P., Valio, I.F.M., Carbon translocation as affected by shade in saplings of shade tolerant and intolerant species (1999) Biologia Plantarum, 42, pp. 631-636Steindler, C., Matteucci, A., Sessa, G., Weimar, T., Ohgishi, M., Aoyama, T., Morelli, G., Ruberti, I., Shade avoidance responses are mediated by the ATHB-2 HD-Zip protein, a negative regulator of gene expression (1999) Development, 126, pp. 4235-4245Tamura K, Dudley J, Nei M, Kumar S. 2007. MEGA4: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24, 1496-1599Theologis, A., Ray, P., Early auxin-regulated polyadenylylated mRNA sequences in pea stem tissue (1982) Proceedings of the National Academy Sciences, USA, 79, pp. 418-421Tiné, M.A.S., Cortelazzo, A.L., Buckeridge, M.S., Xyloglucan mobilisation in cotyledons of developing plantlets of Hymenaea courbaril L. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinoideae) (2000) Plant Science, 154, pp. 117-126Tiné, M.A.S., Silva, C.O., Lima, D.U., Carpita, N.C., Buckeridge, M.S., Fine structure of a mixed-oligomer storage xyloglucan from seeds of Hymenaea courbaril (2006) Carbohydrate Polymers, 66, pp. 444-454Vandenbussche, F., Vriezen, W.H., Smalle, J., Laarhoven, L.J.J., Harren, F.J.M., Straeten, D.V.D., Ethylene and auxin control the Arabidopsis response to decreased light intensity (2003) Plant Physiology, 133, pp. 517-527Vissenberg, K., Oyama, M., Osato, Y., Yokoyama, R., Verbelen, J.P., Nishitani, K., Differential expression of AtXTH17, AtXTH18, AtXTH19 and AtXTH20 genes in Arabidopsis roots. Physiological roles in specification in cell wall construction (2005) Plant and Cell Physiology, 46, pp. 192-200Woodward, A., Bartel, B., Auxin: Regulation, action and interaction (2005) Annals of Botany, 95, pp. 707-735Wu, S.C., Blumer, J.M., Darvill, A.G., Albersheim, P., Characterization of an endo-1, 4-glucanase gene induced by auxin in elongating pea epicotyls (1996) Plant Physiology, 110, pp. 163-170Xu, W., Campbell, P., Vargheese, A.K., Braam, J., The Arabidopsis XET-related gene family: Environmental and hormonal regulation of expression (1996) The Plant Journal, 9, pp. 879-889Xu, W., Purugganan, M.M., Polisensky, D.H., Antosiewicz, D.M., Fry, S.C., Braam, J., Arabidopsis TCH4, regulated by hormones and the environment, encodes a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (1995) The Plant Cell, 7, pp. 1555-1567Yokoyama, R., Nishitani, K., Functional diversity of xyloglucan-related proteins and its implications in the cell wall dynamics in plants (2000) Plant Biology, 2, pp. 598-604Yokoyama, R., Nishitani, K., A comprehensive expression analysis of all members of a gene family encoding cell-wall enzymes allowed us to predict cis-regulatory regions involved in cell-wall construction in specific organs of Arabidopsis (2001) Plant and Cell Physiology, 42, pp. 1025-1033Yokoyama, R., Rose, J.K.C., Nishitani, K., A surprising diversity and abundance of XTHs (xyloglucan) in rice, classification and expression analysis (2004) Plant Physiology, 134, pp. 1088-1099