title: The chimeric repressor version of an Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) family member, Sl-ERF.B3, shows contrasting effects on tomato fruit ripening.
abstract: Fruit ripening involves a complex interplay between ethylene and ripening-associated transcriptional regulators. Ethylene Response Factors (ERFs) are downstream components of ethylene signaling, known to regulate the expression of ethylene-responsive genes. Although fruit ripening is an ethylene-regulated process, the role of ERFs remains poorly understood. The role of Sl-ERF.B3 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit maturation and ripening is addressed here using a chimeric dominant repressor version (ERF.B3-SRDX). Over-expression of ERF.B3-SRDX results in a dramatic delay of the onset of ripening, enhanced climacteric ethylene production and fruit softening, and reduced pigment accumulation. Consistently, genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and in softening are up-regulated and those of carotenoid biosynthesis are down-regulated. Moreover, the expression of ripening regulators, such as RIN, NOR, CNR and HB-1, is stimulated in ERF.B3-SRDX dominant repressor fruits and the expression pattern of a number of ERFs is severely altered. The data suggest the existence of a complex network enabling interconnection between ERF genes which may account for the pleiotropic alterations in fruit maturation and ripening. Overall, the study sheds new light on the role of Sl-ERF.B3 in the transcriptional network controlling the ripening process and uncovers a means towards uncoupling some of the main ripening-associated processes.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSA Toulouse, Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, BP 32607, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France; INRA, Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Chemin de Borde Rouge, Castanet-Tolosan, F-31326, France.
authors.forename: Mingchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diretto
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pirrello
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Roustan
authors.forename: Zhengguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Regad
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouzayen
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C036216:ethylene; D000077276:Lycopene
keywords: Ethylene Response Factor (ERF); Solanum lycopersicum (tomato); dominant repressor; ethylene; fruit ripening