Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40123513›Full record

ArticleThe Plant cell2025

Raffinose family oligosaccharide hydrolysis by alkaline α-galactosidase CsAGA2 controls seed development in cucumber.

Huan Liu, Yuzi Shi, Yalong Zhao, Xuehui Yao, Jing Nie, Hujian Li, Yicong Guo, Dandan Yang, Qian Zhang, Zhen Yang and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Plant cell, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Huan LiuBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1356-8968
Yuzi ShiBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9283-0308
Yalong ZhaoBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5441-1065
Xuehui YaoBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3717-5480
Jing NieBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0474-9647
Hujian LiBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0403-4489
Yicong GuoBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0001-9078-2111
Dandan YangBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0003-2992-3055
Qian ZhangBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0009-0006-6903-2088
Zhen YangBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9524-0386
Xiaolei SuiBeijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.ORCID 0000-0002-4109-0722

Funding

China Agricultural UniversityChina Agriculture Research SystemConstruction of Beijing Science and Technology Innovation and Service Capacity CEFF-PXM2019_014207_000032MARA CARS-23Ministry of Education B17043MOFNational Key Research and Development Program of China 2023YFD2300702National Natural Science Foundation of China 31972398National Natural Science Foundation of China 32272695
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Seed size and weight are pivotal agronomic traits that link plant sexual reproduction to subsequent seedling establishment. These 2 seed characteristics are affected by embryo development and sugar filling. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling sugar translocation and the timing between early embryo development and subsequent seed filling in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) remain poorly understood. Here, we report that alkaline α-galactosidase 2 (CsAGA2) is expressed in the placental vascular bundles and funicular phloem, and its encoded protein is responsible for the hydrolysis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). We demonstrate that FUSCA3 (CsFUS3) activates, while Auxin Response Factor 9 (CsARF9) represses, CsAGA2 expression. The CsFUS3-Sucrose Non-fermenting-1 (Snf1)-Related Protein Kinase 1α1 (CsSnRK1α1) interaction further enhances CsAGA2 expression, while CsARF9 recruits the TOPLESS (CsTPL) corepressor and further weakens CsAGA2 expression. Transgenic CsAGA2-RNAi (RNA interference), CsFUS3-RNAi, csfus3-crispr, and CsARF9-OE (overexpression) lines showed severe seed abortion rates, likely caused by reduced sugar supply during embryo development and seed filling. These results demonstrate the critical collaborative roles of these proteins in delivering sugars for seed development. Our findings reveal that CsAGA2 is an essential enzyme that is switched on by CsFUS3 to precisely regulate embryo development and provide the vast quantities of sugars needed for seed filling in cucumber. As the seeds mature, CsARF9 dampens CsAGA2 expression to gradually reduce the sugar supply to seeds. Therefore, our data suggest that the CsFUS3 and CsARF9 sequentially regulate embryo development and seed filling via CsAGA2-mediated RFO catabolism in cucumber. Our findings provide a new strategy for manipulating seed filling to increase yield in the breeding process of seed crops.

Indexed as

alpha-GalactosidaseCucumis sativusOligosaccharidesPlant ProteinsRaffinoseSeedsGene Expression Regulation, PlantHydrolysisPlants, Genetically Modifiedalpha-GalactosidaseOligosaccharidesPlant ProteinsRaffinose

Identifiers

PMID40123513
PMCPMC12079374

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.