# The Nuclear Transcription Factor SlNF-YC9 Regulates the Protrusion of Tomato Fruit Tip

## TL;DR

This study shows that the SlNF-YC9 gene in tomatoes affects fruit shape by regulating genes involved in auxin transport and response.

## Contribution

The study identifies SlNF-YC9 as a key regulator of tomato fruit tip protrusion through NF-Y complex formation.

## Key findings

- CRISPR/Cas9 mutants of SlNF-YC9 showed a prominent fruit tip protrusion compared to wild type.
- SlNF-YC9 represses FUL2 expression by forming a trimer that binds its promoter.
- Auxin-related genes PIN4, PIN5, PIN9, ARF7, and LAX3 were upregulated in SlNF-YC9 mutants.

## Abstract

NF-Y transcriptional regulators play crucial roles in diverse biological processes in plants, primarily through the formation of NF-Y complexes that bind to specific DNA motifs. These complexes modulate the expression of downstream genes, which influence plant development and growth. In our research, the function of the NF-Y family C subunit member SlNF-YC9 gene in tomato was investigated with the CRISPR/Cas9 method. In contrast to the WT (wild type), the mutant CR-SlNF-YC9 exhibited a prominent protrusion at the fruit tip. The quantitative PCR analysis displayed that the transcription levels of genes associated with auxin transport (PIN4, PIN5, and PIN9) as well as auxin response genes (ARF7 and LAX3) were enhanced in the CR-SlNF-YC9 fruits than in the WT. Analysis of dual-luciferase reporter and EMSA assays showed that the SlNF-YC9-YB13b-YA7a trimer specifically binds the FUL2 promoter and represses its expression. In conclusion, our results suggest that SlNF-YC9 is crucial in influencing tomato fruit shape by the formation of NF-Y heterotrimeric complexes.