Versatile FRUITFULL: Redundancy and specificity in tomato

Fruit development and ripening in tomatoes involve the coordination and tight regulation of gene expression. MADS-domain transcription factors, which are gene expression-regulating proteins, play a crucial role in various biological processes of plants, and interactions between MADS-domain proteins, which are transcription factors are essential for their functions. In tomato, several MADS-domain proteins, such as FUL1, FUL2, MADS-RIN, TAGL1, and MADS1, playing a role in fruit development and ripening have been identified, but an in-depth characterization of their unique and (partially) redundant functions in these processes is lacking. In this project, I aimed to elucidate further the regulatory functions exerted by MADS-box proteins and the interactions among them and with other proteins, particularly for FUL1, FUL2, and TAGL1. First, I have used CRISPR/Cas to generate single mutants and combinations thereof to reveal any redundant functions or cooperativity among these proteins during fruit development and ripening. Second, I also analyzed the detailed temporal and spatial expression of the FULs, to identify specific targets and co-factors. Third, I used the results to develop a refined regulatory model of tomato fruit ripening, incorporating mutagenesis, expression profiles, and interaction data. Altogether, this study will elucidate the molecular regulatory network of MADS-BOX proteins, particularly FUL1/2, in fruit development and ripening.