title: Transcriptional Activity of the MADS Box ARLEQUIN/TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE1 Gene Is Required for Cuticle Development of Tomato Fruit.
abstract: Fruit development and ripening entail key biological and agronomic events, which ensure the appropriate formation and dispersal of seeds and determine productivity and yield quality traits. The MADS box gene Arlequin/tomato Agamous-like1 (hereafter referred to as TAGL1) was reported as a key regulator of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) reproductive development, mainly involved in flower development, early fruit development, and ripening. It is shown here that silencing of the TAGL1 gene (RNA interference lines) promotes significant changes affecting cuticle development, mainly a reduction of thickness and stiffness, as well as a significant decrease in the content of cuticle components (cutin, waxes, polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds). Accordingly, overexpression of TAGL1 significantly increased the amount of cuticle and most of its components while rendering a mechanically weak cuticle. Expression of the genes involved in cuticle biosynthesis agreed with the biochemical and biomechanical features of cuticles isolated from transgenic fruits; it also indicated that TAGL1 participates in the transcriptional control of cuticle development mediating the biosynthesis of cuticle components. Furthermore, cell morphology and the arrangement of epidermal cell layers, on whose activity cuticle formation depends, were altered when TAGL1 was either silenced or constitutively expressed, indicating that this transcription factor regulates cuticle development, probably through the biosynthetic activity of epidermal cells. Our results also support cuticle development as an integrated event in the fruit expansion and ripening processes that characterize fleshy-fruited species such as tomato.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giménez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heredia
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.) rlozano@ual.es.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5458-2075
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almeria, Spain (E.G., R.L., T.A.);Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Malaga, Spain (E.D., A.H.); andInstituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46022 Valencia, Spain (B.P., V.M.).
authors.forename: Trinidad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Angosto
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005638:Fruit / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D019441:Plant Epidermis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger