Foundational characterization of tomato fruit RALF peptides reveals structural and functional specialization within the SlRALF
Montano, J. A.; Carrera, M.; Wang, X.; Mesa-Rojas, P.; Luna, A. M.; Schaller, A.; Morilla, I.; Doblas, V. G.
Plant Signaling
Understanding how tomatoes signal their own ripening at the molecular level opens a door to breeding varieties that stay firmer longer on the vine — meaning homegrown tomatoes that don't crack or go mealy before you pick them.
Tomatoes make tiny protein signals called RALFs that act like text messages between cells, telling them how to build and remodel their walls as the fruit grows. Researchers found three of these signals active in tomato fruit: two behave like classic versions — slowing root growth and changing the chemistry around cells — while the third is structurally unusual and seems to play a different role, possibly during the earliest stages of fruit formation. All three connect to the same receptor proteins in the fruit, but they appear to 'speak' in different dialects depending on what the plant needs at each growth stage.
Key Findings
Three RALF peptides (SlRALF5, SlRALF7, SlRALF10) are the primary signaling molecules expressed in tomato fruit, with SlRALF10 peaking in early development and SlRALF5/7 persisting through ripening.
SlRALF5 and SlRALF7 inhibited root growth and triggered cell-wall alkalinization in bioassays, while SlRALF10 had neither effect — indicating functional divergence despite shared binding partners.
All three peptides physically interact with the same fruit-expressed receptor proteins (SlLRX2 and SlLRX5), but structural modeling revealed distinct electrostatic surface properties for the SlLRX5/SlRALF10 complex, suggesting a mechanistically different signaling outcome.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered that tomato plants use three specialized signaling molecules during fruit growth and ripening, each playing a distinct role — two actively control cell wall chemistry while a third works differently and may coordinate early fruit formation through structural rather than chemical means.
Abstract Preview
Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) peptides regulate plant growth and cell wall signaling, but their roles in fruit development remain unclear. Here, we characterized tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ...
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