title: Silencing SlELP2L, a tomato Elongator complex protein 2-like gene, inhibits leaf growth, accelerates leaf, sepal senescence, and produces dark-green fruit.
abstract: The multi-subunit complex Elongator interacts with elongating RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and is thought to facilitate transcription through histone acetylation. Elongator is highly conserved in eukaryotes, yet has multiple kingdom-specific functions in diverse organisms. Recent genetic studies performed in Arabidopsis have demonstrated that Elongator functions in plant growth and development, and in response to biotic and abiotic stress. However, little is known about its roles in other plant species. Here, we study the function of an Elongator complex protein 2-like gene in tomato, here designated as SlELP2L, through RNAi-mediated gene silencing. Silencing SlELP2L in tomato inhibits leaf growth, accelerates leaf and sepal senescence, and produces dark-green fruit with reduced GA and IAA contents in leaves, and increased chlorophyll accumulation in pericarps. Gene expression analysis indicated that SlELP2L-silenced plants had reduced transcript levels of ethylene- and ripening-related genes during fruit ripening with slightly decreased carotenoid content in fruits, while the expression of DNA methyltransferase genes was up-regulated, indicating that SlELP2L may modulate DNA methylation in tomato. Besides, silencing SlELP2L increases ABA sensitivity in inhibiting seedling growth. These results suggest that SlELP2L plays important roles in regulating plant growth and development, as well as in response to ABA in tomato.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiaoli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zongli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases