Genome-wide analysis of tomato NF-Y factors and their role in fruit ripening

BMC Genomics

Research Article

Dongyan Cao¹  Shan Li¹  Hongliang Zhu¹  Yunbo Luo¹  Benzhong Zhu¹  Zheng Ju¹  Daqi Fu¹  Ka Li¹ 

[1] The College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Tsinghua East Road, 100083, Beijing, Peoples Republic of China;

关键词: Genome-wide analysis;    NF-Y transcription factor;    Ripening;    VIGS;    Tomato;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12864-015-2334-2

 received in 2015-10-07, accepted in 2015-12-18,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFruit ripening is a complex developmental process that depends on a coordinated regulation of numerous genes, including ripening-related transcription factors (TFs), fruit-related microRNAs, DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling. It is known that various TFs, such as MADS-domain, MYB, AP2/ERF and SBP/SPL family proteins play key roles in modulating ripening. However, little attention has been given to members of the large NF-Y TF family in this regard, although genes in this family are known to have important functions in regulating plant growth, development, and abiotic or biotic stress responses.ResultsIn this study, the evolutionary relationship between Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) NF-Y genes was examined to predict similarities in function. Furthermore, through gene expression analysis, 13 tomato NF-Y genes were identified as candidate regulators of fruit ripening. Functional studies involving suppression of NF-Y gene expression using virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) indicated that five NF-Y genes, including two members of the NF-YB subgroup (Solyc06g069310, Solyc07g065500) and three members of the NF-YA subgroup (Solyc01g087240, Solyc08g062210, Solyc11g065700), influence ripening. In addition, subcellular localization analyses using NF-Y proteins fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter showed that the three NF-YA proteins accumulated in the nucleus, while the two NF-YB proteins were observed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm.ConclusionsIn this study, we identified tomato NF-Y genes by analyzing the tomato genome sequence using bioinformatics approaches, and characterized their chromosomal distribution, gene structures, phylogenetic relationship and expression patterns. We also examined their biological functions in regulating tomato fruit via VIGS and subcellular localization analyses. The results indicated that five NF-Y transcription factors play roles in tomato fruit ripening. This information provides a platform for further investigation of their biological functions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Li et al. 2016