CrJAG Zinc-Finger Transcription Factor

Unlocks Fruit Shape Gene Expression

CrJAG interacts with CrMSI histone chaperones to increase chromatin accessibility and sustain expression of fruit morphogenesis genes, adding an epigenetic layer of regulation to organ development.

Lü, Tianfeng · Xiao-Yu, Chen · Trozzi, Nicola · He, Wen · Yuan, Quan · Lu, Limin · Li, Chaobin · Cheng, Jie · Sicard, Adrien · Zhang, Yao · Zan, Yanjun · Lenhard, Michael · Kong, Hongzhi · Majda, Mateusz · Østergaard, Lars · Dong, Yang

Nature Communications 2026

Advantages

Increases chromatin accessibility

CrJAG physically interacts with CrMSI histone chaperones, increasing chromatin accessibility and thereby sustaining expression of genes involved in fruit morphogenesis.

Regulates cell cycle gene

Developmental defects in Crjag fruits are largely attributable to down-regulation of the key cell-cycle regulator CrAUR2.

Alters histone marks

Crjag fruits show reduced active histone mark H3K18ac and increased repressive mark H3K27me3.

Applications

• Fruit Shape Improvement：Manipulating JAGGED expression can modify fruit shape for crop improvement.
• Plant Epigenetic Breeding：Exploit epigenetic regulation to breed varieties with desired traits.
• Horticultural Trait Regulation：Control fruit morphology in horticultural crops by modulating cell division and growth.