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A Branched SNF1-Related Protein Kinase 2 Signalling Cascade Controls ABA-Induced Ethylene Production and Regulates
Zhengrong Dai1, Yating Li1, Changsheng Zhai1
1College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Plant Biotechnology Journal
|December 26, 2025
Summary
Abscisic acid (ABA) triggers ethylene (ET) production to initiate fruit ripening by activating SlSnRK2 kinases. These kinases regulate ethylene biosynthesis genes transcriptionally and post-translationally, controlling fruit ripening and development.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fruit ripening, quality, and yield are critical for nutrition and commerce.
- Ethylene (ET) production initiates climacteric (CL) fruit ripening, but its initiation mechanism is unclear.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) can induce ET production, but the underlying mechanism and its role in ripening initiation are unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of ABA-induced ET production (AEP) in CL fruit ripening.
- To identify key signaling components involved in AEP and their role in fruit ripening.
- To investigate the potential of manipulating ABA signaling for crop improvement.
Main Methods:
- Overexpression of SlSnRK2 kinases in tomato plants.
- Analysis of protein phosphorylation events involving SlSnRK2, SlHB1, and SlMPK1/2.
- Transcriptional analysis of ethylene biosynthesis genes (SlACO1, SlACS2).
- CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to remove SlSnRK2.1.
- Phenotypic analysis of fruit ripening, flowering time, and seed development.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of SlSnRK2 kinases stimulated ABA-induced ET production.
- SlSnRK2.1 and SlSnRK2.4 phosphorylate SlHB1, leading to transcriptional activation of SlACO1.
- SlSnRK2.1 and SlSnRK2.4 also phosphorylate SlMPK1/2, stabilizing SlACS2 for ACC production.
- CRISPR/Cas9-mediated removal of SlSnRK2.1 altered fruit ripening progression.
- SlSnRK2.1 signaling also impacts flowering time and seed development.
Conclusions:
- ABA is a primary hormonal signal initiating CL fruit ripening by regulating ethylene biosynthesis via transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms.
- The identified SlSnRK2-mediated branched signaling network is crucial for AEP.
- Targeting SlSnRK2.1 signaling offers potential for modifying fruit cropping and inducing seedlessness.
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