A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato
Abstract Terpenoids, a group of metabolites, are important to plant development and color formation, and serve as valuable nutrients for humans. The enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl- 2 C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferase (MCT) plays a pivotal role in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for te...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Molecular Horticulture |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-025-00159-x |
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| author | Mengyi Yu Yinge Xie Zilin Qian Yu Zhong Huolin Shen Wencai Yang |
| author_facet | Mengyi Yu Yinge Xie Zilin Qian Yu Zhong Huolin Shen Wencai Yang |
| author_sort | Mengyi Yu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Terpenoids, a group of metabolites, are important to plant development and color formation, and serve as valuable nutrients for humans. The enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl- 2 C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferase (MCT) plays a pivotal role in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for terpenoid biosynthesis. However, the potential lethality of MCT mutants has hindered further exploration into its functional role in terpenoid metabolite families in plants. Here, we characterized a rare MCT mutant yfm with dwarfism, chlorosis, small leaves, and yellow fruits in tomato. Map-based cloning and sequence analysis revealed that a single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene, which resulted in a point mutation (Leu297Pro) in amino acid in the mutant. Over-expression and complementation of the wild-type SlMCT T in the yfm mutant restored the fruit color and the other defective phenotypes. This mutation altered the gene expressions and metabolic components in the MEP and other pathways. Consequently, the total contents of carotenoids, chlorophyll, IAA, GAs, and SA were decreased, while the contents of CK, JA, and ABA were increased. Eventually, these alterations led to changes in plant phenotypes and fruit color in yfm. These findings provide novel insights into understanding the roles of MCT on plant development and pigment biosynthesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67b759a4ff714813a617d27ec36d58e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-9401 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecular Horticulture |
| spelling | doaj-art-67b759a4ff714813a617d27ec36d58e02025-08-20T04:02:41ZengBMCMolecular Horticulture2730-94012025-08-015111510.1186/s43897-025-00159-xA single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomatoMengyi Yu0Yinge Xie1Zilin Qian2Yu Zhong3Huolin Shen4Wencai Yang5Department of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityDepartment of Vegetable Science, Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Terpenoids, a group of metabolites, are important to plant development and color formation, and serve as valuable nutrients for humans. The enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl- 2 C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferase (MCT) plays a pivotal role in the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for terpenoid biosynthesis. However, the potential lethality of MCT mutants has hindered further exploration into its functional role in terpenoid metabolite families in plants. Here, we characterized a rare MCT mutant yfm with dwarfism, chlorosis, small leaves, and yellow fruits in tomato. Map-based cloning and sequence analysis revealed that a single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene, which resulted in a point mutation (Leu297Pro) in amino acid in the mutant. Over-expression and complementation of the wild-type SlMCT T in the yfm mutant restored the fruit color and the other defective phenotypes. This mutation altered the gene expressions and metabolic components in the MEP and other pathways. Consequently, the total contents of carotenoids, chlorophyll, IAA, GAs, and SA were decreased, while the contents of CK, JA, and ABA were increased. Eventually, these alterations led to changes in plant phenotypes and fruit color in yfm. These findings provide novel insights into understanding the roles of MCT on plant development and pigment biosynthesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-025-00159-x4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferaseTerpenoid biosynthesisPhytohormoneCarotenoidsChlorophyll |
| spellingShingle | Mengyi Yu Yinge Xie Zilin Qian Yu Zhong Huolin Shen Wencai Yang A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato Molecular Horticulture 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferase Terpenoid biosynthesis Phytohormone Carotenoids Chlorophyll |
| title | A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| title_full | A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| title_fullStr | A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| title_full_unstemmed | A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| title_short | A single nucleotide substitution in the SlMCT gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| title_sort | single nucleotide substitution in the slmct gene contributes to great morphological alternations in tomato |
| topic | 4-diphosphocytidyl-2C-methyl-D-erythritol cytidyltransferase Terpenoid biosynthesis Phytohormone Carotenoids Chlorophyll |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43897-025-00159-x |
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