title: Tuning LeSPL-CNR expression by SlymiR157 affects tomato fruit ripening.
abstract: In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in growth, development, yield, stress response and interactions with pathogens. However no miRNA has been experimentally documented to be functionally involved in fruit ripening although many miRNAs have been profiled in fruits. Here we show that SlymiR157 and SlymiR156 differentially modulate ripening and softening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). SlymiR157 is expressed and developmentally regulated in normal tomato fruits and in those of the Colourless non-ripening (Cnr) epimutant. It regulates expression of the key ripening gene LeSPL-CNR in a likely dose-dependent manner through miRNA-induced mRNA degradation and translation repression. Viral delivery of either pre-SlymiR157 or mature SlymiR157 results in delayed ripening. Furthermore, qRT-PCR profiling of key ripening regulatory genes indicates that the SlymiR157-target LeSPL-CNR may affect expression of LeMADS-RIN, LeHB1, SlAP2a and SlTAGL1. However SlymiR156 does not affect the onset of ripening, but it impacts fruit softening after the red ripe stage. Our findings reveal that working together with a ripening network of transcription factors, SlymiR157 and SlymiR156 form a critical additional layer of regulatory control over the fruit ripening process in tomato.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Tongfei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Chaoqun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Meiling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences Research Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK [2] Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt.
authors.forename: Atef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahammed
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Chunyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK [2] Department of Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt.
authors.forename: Toba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Nongnong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
authors.forename: Huizhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Centre for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yule
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: UMR Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, INRA, Villenave d'Ornon 33883, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallusci
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Centre for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China [2] School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Yiguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant