title: Genome-wide characterization, expression and functional analysis of CLV3/ESR gene family in tomato.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By encoding a group of small secretory peptides, the members of the CLAVATA3/EMBRYO-SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) family play important roles in cell-to-cell communication to control the balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation in plant development. Despite recent identification and characterization of members of this gene family in several plant species, little is known about its functional role in plants with fleshy fruits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, fifteen CLE genes (SlCLE1-15) were identified from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. 'Heinz-1706') genome and their multiple characters including phylogeny, gene structures, chromosome locations, conserved motifs and cis-elements in the promoter sequences, were analyzed. Real-time PCR analysis showed that 13 out of 15 identified SlCLE genes are transcribed and exhibit remarkably unique expression patterns among tissues and organs. In particular, SlCLE12, the homologue of Arabidopsis CLE41/44 gene, appears to be the dominant CLE gene in most of tested tissues with its maximum expression found in vascular tissues. Meanwhile, SlCLE1, 10, 13 exhibit specific but distinct expression in flower bud, root and shoot apex, respectively. More notably, several SlCLEs are dramatically regulated in their transcriptional levels during fruit development and ripening, indicating significant role these genes may potentially play in the critical physiological process. Upon the treatment with synthetic peptides corresponding to the 12-aa CLE domains of SlCLE 10, 12 and 13, tomato seedlings exhibit a clear reduction in root length to varying degrees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a comprehensive genomic analysis of CLE gene family in tomato, a crop species with fleshy fruit. Differential expression patterns of various SlCLEs provide important insights into the functional divergence of CLE signaling cascade in Solanaceae species, especially their potential involvements in the regulation of fruit development and ripening.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shaohui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yingjin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Weijin Rd, 92#, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China. jiehuawang@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiehua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D010940:Plant Proteins