Transcriptome and selected metabolite analyses reveal multiple points of ethylene control during tomato fruit development.
Transcriptome profiling via cDNA microarray analysis identified 869 genes that are differentially expressed in developing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) pericarp. Parallel phenotypic and targeted metabolite comparisons were employed to inform the expression analysis. Transcript accumulation in tomato fruit was observed to be extensively coordinated and often completely dependent on ethylene. Mutation of an ethylene receptor (Never-ripe [Nr]), which reduces ethylene sensitivity and inhibits ripening, alters the expression of 37% of these 869 genes. Nr also influences fruit morphology, seed number, ascorbate accumulation, carotenoid biosynthesis, ethylene evolution, and the expression of many genes during fruit maturation, indicating that ethylene governs multiple aspects of development both prior to and during fruit ripening in tomato. Of the 869 genes identified, 628 share homology (E-value < or = 1 x 10(-10)) with known gene products or known protein domains. Of these 628 loci, 72 share homology with previously described signal transduction or transcription factors, suggesting complex regulatory control. These results demonstrate multiple points of ethylene regulatory control during tomato fruit development and provide new insights into the molecular basis of ethylene-mediated ripening.
Alba
Rob
R
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Payton
Paxton
P
Fei
Zhanjun
Z
McQuinn
Ryan
R
Debbie
Paul
P
Martin
Gregory B
GB
Tanksley
Steven D
SD
Giovannoni
James J
JJ
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics
D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D014157:Transcription Factors; C083750:ethylene receptors, plant; D002338:Carotenoids; C036216:ethylene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid