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Clade II SHAGGY-like kinases regulate fruit shape in tomato by modulating SlMAP65-1 stability
Rong Huang1, Guo Ai1, Chunrui Chen1
1National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Tomato fruit shape is regulated by SHAGGY-like kinases (SKs). Clade II SlSKs negatively control fruit shape by affecting cell expansion and division, interacting with SlMAP65-1 to influence tomato morphology.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Fruit shape is a critical trait in tomato breeding, impacting agricultural efficiency and market value.
- Existing knowledge of genes regulating tomato fruit shape is incomplete, necessitating further investigation into regulatory networks.
- SHAGGY-like kinases (SKs)/Glycogen synthase kinase3 (GSK3) are conserved regulators of plant development, but their specific roles in tomato fruit development require elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the function of the tomato SHAGGY-like kinases (SlSKs) family in fruit development.
- To identify the specific SlSK members and their regulatory mechanisms controlling tomato fruit shape.
- To elucidate the molecular interactions and pathways involved in SlSK-mediated fruit morphology control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to create higher-order mutants of all nine SlSK family members in tomato.
- Conducted phenotypic screening of generated mutants to identify alterations in fruit shape.
- Employed proteomics to identify interacting proteins and performed in planta interaction and phosphorylation assays to confirm molecular mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Mutations in SlSKs clade II members (SlSK21/SlSK22/SlSK23) resulted in altered tomato fruit shape, indicating their redundant function as negative regulators.
- SlSK2s control fruit shape by regulating cell expansion in the columella and cell division in the ovary wall during ovary development.
- Proteomics identified SlMAP65-1 as a key protein affected in slsk2s mutants, with SlSK23 directly phosphorylating SlMAP65-1 to enhance its stability.
Conclusions:
- Tomato SHAGGY-like kinases, particularly SlSKs clade II, play a crucial, redundant role in negatively regulating fruit shape.
- The SlSKs-SlMAP65-1 interaction and SlMAP65-1 phosphorylation by SlSK23 represent a novel molecular mechanism controlling tomato fruit morphology.
- This study provides significant insights into the genetic and molecular basis of tomato fruit shape, offering potential targets for breeding improved varieties.
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