背景回顾：Stone cells in fruits of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) negatively influence fruit quality because their lignified cell walls impart a coarse and granular texture to the fruit flesh. 

主要研究：We generate RNA-seq data from the developing fruits of 206 pear cultivars with a wide range of stone cell contents and use a systems genetics approach to integrate co-expression networks and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) to characterize the regulatory mechanisms controlling lignocellulose formation in the stone cells of pear fruits. 

结果1-转录组+eQTLs：Our data with a total of 35,897 expressed genes and 974,404 SNPs support the identification of seven stone cell formation modules and the detection of 139,515 eQTLs for 3229 genes in these modules. 

结果2-构建共表达网络，鉴定核心调控因子PbrNSC：Focusing on regulatory factors and using a co-expression network comprising 39 structural genes, we identify PbrNSC as a candidate regulator of stone cell formation. 

结果3-基因功能验证：We then verify the function ofPbrNSC in regulating lignocellulose formation using both pear fruit and Arabidopsis plants and further show that PbrNSC can transcriptionally activate multiple target genes involved in secondary cell wall formation. 

结论：This study generates a large resource for studying stone cell formation and provides insights into gene regulatory networks controlling the formation of stone cell and lignocellulose.

 摘 要 

沙梨果实中的石细胞会降低果实品质，其木质化的细胞壁使得果肉品尝起来变得粗糙、颗粒感强。本文中，作者通过对206个栽培梨的正在发育中的果实进行转录组测序，这些栽培梨果实具有不同程度的石细胞含量，并结合系统遗传学方法，整合共表达网络和表达数量性状位点eQTL等方法，解析了梨果实中石细胞木质纤维素形成的调控机制。作者共获得了35897个表达的基因，974404个SNPs，鉴定了7个石细胞形成相关的模块，并且在这些模块中共检测到了139515个SNPs，涵盖了3229个基因。作者以调节因子为重点，构建了包含39个结构基因的共表达网络，发现PbrNSC是石细胞形成的候选调控因子。接着，作者利用梨果实和拟南芥植株验证了PbrNSC基因在调控木质纤维素形成方面的功能，进一步发现PbrNSC能够转录激活多个参与次生细胞壁形成的靶基因。本文的研究为研究石细胞的形成提供了丰富的资源，并且为控制石细胞和木质纤维素形成的分子调控网络提供了新的视野。