We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
A naturally occurring epigenetic mutation in a gene encoding an SBP-box transcription factor inhibits tomato fruit ripening.
- Authors
Manning, Kenneth; Tör, Mahmut; Poole, Mervin; Hong, Yiguo; Thompson, Andrew J; King, Graham J; Giovannoni, James J; Seymour, Graham B
- Abstract
A major component in the regulatory network controlling fruit ripening is likely to be the gene at the tomato Colorless non-ripening (Cnr) locus. The Cnr mutation results in colorless fruits with a substantial loss of cell-to-cell adhesion. The nature of the mutation and the identity of the Cnr gene were previously unknown. Using positional cloning and virus-induced gene silencing, here we demonstrate that an SBP-box (SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like) gene resides at the Cnr locus. Furthermore, the Cnr phenotype results from a spontaneous epigenetic change in the SBP-box promoter. The discovery that Cnr is an epimutation was unexpected, as very few spontaneous epimutations have been described in plants. This study demonstrates that an SBP-box gene is critical for normal ripening and highlights the likely importance of epialleles in plant development and the generation of natural variation.
- Publication
Nature genetics, 2006, Vol 38, Issue 8, p948
- ISSN
1061-4036
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/ng1841