Effect of phosphate deficiency-induced anthocyanin accumulation on the expression of Solanum lycopersicum GLABRA3 (SlGL3) in tomato.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the bHLH transcription factor, GLABRA3 (AtGL3), is an important regulator of epidermal cell differentiation and positively controls anthocyanin accumulation. In contrast, we previously showed that Solanum lycopersicum GLABRA3 (SlGL3), the AtGL3 homolog, suppressed anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis. To clarify this functional discrepancy in anthocyanin accumulation, we analyzed the SlGL3 expression pattern in anthocyanin-induced tomato. The SlGL3 expression was significantly reduced in tomato seedlings rich in anthocyanin as a result of inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation. This was consistent with the previous result obtained in Arabidopsis, wherein the overexpression of SlGL3 was shown to inhibit anthocyanin accumulation. Our study suggests that the function of SlGL3 is different from that of AtGL3, and it might inhibit anthocyanin accumulation in tomato.

CPC-ETC1 chimeric protein localization data in Arabidopsis root epidermis.

Intercellular movement of transcription factor proteins is essential for plant development. The R3 type MYB transcription factor protein, CAPRICE (CPC), moves from non-hair cells to root-hair cells where it promotes root hair formation in Arabidopsis root epidermis. In contrast, the CPC homolog of ENHANCER OF TRY AND CPC1 (ETC1) cannot move in root epidermal cells. In this work, we present protein localization data of CPC-ETC1 chimeric proteins. Localization of CPC-ETC1-GFP fusion proteins of chimera1 and chimera2 transgenic plants was observed using confocal laser scanning microscope. Insertion of ETC1-specific amino acids into CPC somewhat prevents normal protein localization of CPC in root epidermal cells. Cell-to-cell movement of chimera1 and chimera2 proteins from non-hair cells to root-hair cells was interfered. Nuclear localization was also inhibited, especially in chimera1.