Modulating the activity of the <scp>APC</scp> /C regulator <scp>SISAMBA</scp> improves the sugar and antioxidant content of tomato fruits
The Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a crucial role in ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of key cell cycle regulators, which is completed by the 26S proteasome. Previously, SAMBA, a plant-specific regulator of the APC/C, was identified in Arabidopsis as a critical factor controlling organ size through the regulation of cell proliferation. Here, by assessing its role in the crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), we confirm that SAMBA is a conserved APC/C regulator in plants and shows additional roles, including the modulation of fruit shape and changes in sugar metabolism. Two slsamba genome-edited lines were produced and characterized, and showed delayed growth, reduced plant size, and altered fruit morphology, which were linked to changes in cell division and expansion. Notably, untargeted metabolomics revealed altered flavonoid profiles, along with elevated Brix values in the fruits, indicating a sweeter taste. Accordingly, transcriptomics uncovered a change in temporal gene expression gradients during early fruit development, correlating with the alterations in sugar metabolism and revealing changes in cell wall biosynthesis genes. This study provides the first evidence of SAMBA's role in regulating fruit development, metabolic content, and ultimately, quality. These important findings offer potential applications for improving the nutritional quality and overall performance of tomatoes.
Authors
- Luís Felipe Correa da Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-3283)
- Laíse Rosado-Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6000-771X)
- Pedro Boscariol Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1899-443X)
- Jean‐Philippe Mauxion (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5665-2468)
- Marina de Lyra Soriano Saleme (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6526-0055)
- Feng Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9133-0843)
- Marina Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9412-0545)
- Lázaro Eustáquio Pereira Peres (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8761-5934)
- Klaas Vandepoele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4790-2725)
- Norbert Bollier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0537-4151)
- Perla Novais de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7749-2697)
- Herman De Beukelaer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3968-7386)
- Sara Selma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9566-0439)
- Alain Goossens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1599-551X)
- Leonardo Perez de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7200-8808)
- Núbia Barbosa Eloy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8380-5063)
- Alisdair Robert Fernie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9000-335X)
- Aaron N. Chang
- Nathalie González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3946-1758)
- Lilian Ellen Pino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3284-9706)
Institutions
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (CN)
- Stellenbosch University (ZA)
- Ghent University (BE)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie (FR)
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (BE)
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Plant Biotechnology Journal
- Published
- 2025-06-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70149
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.50
Funders
- Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo