PbrmiR397a regulates lignification during stone cell development in pear fruit.

Lignified stone cells substantially reduce fruit quality. Therefore, it is desirable to inhibit stone cell development using genetic technologies. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating lignification are poorly understood in fruit stone cells. In this study, we have shown that microRNA (miR) miR397a regulates fruit cell lignification by inhibiting laccase (LAC) genes that encode key lignin biosynthesis enzymes. Transient overexpression of PbrmiR397a, which is the miR397a of Chinese pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), and simultaneous silencing of three LAC genes reduced the lignin content and stone cell number in pear fruit. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identified in the promoter of the PbrmiR397a gene was found to associate with low levels of fruit lignin, after analysis of the genome sequences of sixty pear varieties. This SNP created a TCA element that responded to salicylic acid to induce gene expression as confirmed using a cell-based assay system. Furthermore, stable overexpression of PbrmiR397a in transgenic tobacco plants reduced the expression of target LAC genes and decreased the content of lignin but did not change the ratio of syringyl- and guaiacyl-lignin monomers. Consistent with reduction in lignin content, the transgenic plants showed fewer numbers of vessel elements and thinner secondary walls in the remaining elements compared to wild-type control plants. This study has advanced our understanding of the regulation of lignin biosynthesis and provided useful molecular genetic information for improving pear fruit quality.

Synthetic and structural studies on L-cysteinyl group-containing diiron/triiron azadithiolates as active site models of [FeFe]-hydrogenases.

Five new L-cysteinyl group-containing diiron/triiron azadithiolate complexes (3-6, 10), which could be regarded as the active site models of [FeFe]-hydrogenases, have been successfully synthesized. Treatment of L-cysteinyl sodium mercaptide CytSNa (1, Cyt = CH(2)CH(CO(2)Et)NH(CO(2)Bu-t) with complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)Br]Fe(2)(CO)(6) (2) in THF at room temperature resulted in formation of model complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)SCyt]Fe(2)(CO)(6) (3). Further treatment of 3 with decarbonylating agent Me(3)NO in MeCN at room temperature afforded model complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)SCyt]Fe(2)(CO)(5) (4). Similarly, treatment of 3 with an equimolar mixture of Me(3)NO and Ph(3)P gave model complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)SCyt]Fe(2)(CO)(5)(Ph(3)P) (5) and further treatment of 5 with Me(3)NO produced model complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)SCyt]Fe(2)(CO)(4)(Ph(3)P) (6). More interestingly, model complex [(mu-SCH(2))(2)NCH(CO(2)Et)CH(2)SFe(CO)(2)Cp]Fe(2)(CO)(5) (10) could be synthesized by a "one pot" reaction of the in situ prepared (mu-HS)(2)Fe(2)(CO)(6) (9) with 37% aqueous formaldehyde followed by treatment with the N-deprotected L-cysteinyl iron mercaptide Cp(CO)(2)FeSCH(2)CH(CO(2)Et)NH(2) (8). Complex 8 is new, which was prepared by treatment of complex Cp(CO)(2)FeSCyt (7) with CF(3)CO(2)H followed by 25% aqueous NH(3). All the new complexes 3-6, 8, and 10 were characterized by elemental analysis and various spectroscopic techniques, whereas complexes 5 and 10 were further characterized by X-ray crystallography.