Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis
BackgroundCaffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of caffeic acid to form ferulic acid, a critical step in lignin biosynthesis. Lignin is essential for the development of stone cells in pear fruit, impar...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1614220/full |
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| author | Xiaofeng Feng Xiaofeng Feng Xianang Wu Xianang Wu Jiayi Hong Jiayi Hong Zihui Guo Zihui Guo Yasmin Khan Yasmin Khan Dongyi Wei Dongyi Wei Honghong Fan Honghong Fan Yongping Cai Yongping Cai |
| author_facet | Xiaofeng Feng Xiaofeng Feng Xianang Wu Xianang Wu Jiayi Hong Jiayi Hong Zihui Guo Zihui Guo Yasmin Khan Yasmin Khan Dongyi Wei Dongyi Wei Honghong Fan Honghong Fan Yongping Cai Yongping Cai |
| author_sort | Xiaofeng Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCaffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of caffeic acid to form ferulic acid, a critical step in lignin biosynthesis. Lignin is essential for the development of stone cells in pear fruit, imparting their characteristic texture. Although COMT has been extensively studied in model organisms, its function in pears remains less explored.ResultsIn this study, we identified 29 COMT genes in the pear variety ‘Dangshan Su’, classified into five subfamilies. These genes exhibit five conserved motifs, and promoter analysis indicates potential hormonal regulation. Transcriptome data showed that PbrCOMT1 is the predominant COMT gene in ‘Dangshan Su’ fruit and is likely crucial for lignin synthesis. In situ hybridization revealed that the expression of PbrCOMT1 coincides with lignin, highlighting its role in stone cell development. Functional studies, including transient transformation of pear and strawberry fruit, as well as stable transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana, demonstrated that PbrCOMT1 overexpression enhances lignin content, while gene silencing diminishes it. Overexpression in Arabidopsis and fruit models resulted in growth inhibition, associating PbrCOMT1 with lignin-related developmental processes.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that PbrCOMT1 is a key gene involved in lignin synthesis and stone cell development in pear fruit. This provides a molecular basis for enhancing pear fruit quality through targeted genetic approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a3fcfad1df464ba89ed986078d216b7f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a3fcfad1df464ba89ed986078d216b7f2025-08-20T03:45:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16142201614220Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesisXiaofeng Feng0Xiaofeng Feng1Xianang Wu2Xianang Wu3Jiayi Hong4Jiayi Hong5Zihui Guo6Zihui Guo7Yasmin Khan8Yasmin Khan9Dongyi Wei10Dongyi Wei11Honghong Fan12Honghong Fan13Yongping Cai14Yongping Cai15School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaCharacteristic Plants, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, ChinaBackgroundCaffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferase that catalyzes the methylation of caffeic acid to form ferulic acid, a critical step in lignin biosynthesis. Lignin is essential for the development of stone cells in pear fruit, imparting their characteristic texture. Although COMT has been extensively studied in model organisms, its function in pears remains less explored.ResultsIn this study, we identified 29 COMT genes in the pear variety ‘Dangshan Su’, classified into five subfamilies. These genes exhibit five conserved motifs, and promoter analysis indicates potential hormonal regulation. Transcriptome data showed that PbrCOMT1 is the predominant COMT gene in ‘Dangshan Su’ fruit and is likely crucial for lignin synthesis. In situ hybridization revealed that the expression of PbrCOMT1 coincides with lignin, highlighting its role in stone cell development. Functional studies, including transient transformation of pear and strawberry fruit, as well as stable transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana, demonstrated that PbrCOMT1 overexpression enhances lignin content, while gene silencing diminishes it. Overexpression in Arabidopsis and fruit models resulted in growth inhibition, associating PbrCOMT1 with lignin-related developmental processes.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that PbrCOMT1 is a key gene involved in lignin synthesis and stone cell development in pear fruit. This provides a molecular basis for enhancing pear fruit quality through targeted genetic approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1614220/fullChinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd)COMTDangshan Suligninstone cell |
| spellingShingle | Xiaofeng Feng Xiaofeng Feng Xianang Wu Xianang Wu Jiayi Hong Jiayi Hong Zihui Guo Zihui Guo Yasmin Khan Yasmin Khan Dongyi Wei Dongyi Wei Honghong Fan Honghong Fan Yongping Cai Yongping Cai Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis Frontiers in Plant Science Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) COMT Dangshan Su lignin stone cell |
| title | Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis |
| title_full | Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis |
| title_fullStr | Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis |
| title_short | Functional characterization of COMT genes in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and their role in lignin synthesis |
| title_sort | functional characterization of comt genes in chinese white pear pyrus bretschneideri and their role in lignin synthesis |
| topic | Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) COMT Dangshan Su lignin stone cell |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1614220/full |
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