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Jia H, Xu Y, Deng Y, Xie Y, Gao Z, Lang Z, Niu Q. Key transcription factors regulate fruit ripening and metabolite accumulation in tomato. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:2256-2273. [PMID: 38561990 PMCID: PMC11213253 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Fruit ripening is a complex process involving dynamic changes to metabolites and is controlled by multiple factors, including transcription factors (TFs). Several TFs are reportedly essential regulators of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening. To evaluate the effects of specific TFs on metabolite accumulation during fruit ripening, we combined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis with metabolome and transcriptome analyses to explore regulatory mechanisms. Specifically, we generated various genetically engineered tomato lines that differed regarding metabolite contents and fruit colors. The metabolite and transcript profiles indicated that the selected TFs have distinct functions that control fruit metabolite contents, especially carotenoids and sugars. Moreover, a mutation to ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) increased tomato fruit fructose and glucose contents by approximately 20% (relative to the wild-type levels). Our in vitro assay showed that HY5 can bind directly to the G-box cis-element in the Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET12c) promoter to activate expression, thereby modulating sugar transport. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms regulating tomato fruit ripening and metabolic networks, providing the theoretical basis for breeding horticultural crops that produce fruit with diverse flavors and colors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Jia
- College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Yaping Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Advanced Academy, Anhui Agricultural University, Research Centre for Biological Breeding Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Yuanwei Deng
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Advanced Academy, Anhui Agricultural University, Research Centre for Biological Breeding Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Yinhuan Xie
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Advanced Academy, Anhui Agricultural University, Research Centre for Biological Breeding Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Zhongshan Gao
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhaobo Lang
- Institute of Advanced Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qingfeng Niu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance Breeding, School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Advanced Academy, Anhui Agricultural University, Research Centre for Biological Breeding Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
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Liu GS, Huang H, Grierson D, Gao Y, Ji X, Peng ZZ, Li HL, Niu XL, Jia W, He JL, Xiang LT, Gao HY, Qu GQ, Zhu HL, Zhu BZ, Luo YB, Fu DQ. NAC transcription factor SlNOR-like1 plays a dual regulatory role in tomato fruit cuticle formation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:1903-1918. [PMID: 37856192 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is an important protective barrier on the plant surface, constructed mainly by polymerized cutin matrix and a complex wax mixture. Although the pathway of plant cuticle biosynthesis has been clarified, knowledge of the transcriptional regulation network underlying fruit cuticle formation remains limited. In the present work, we discovered that tomato fruits of the NAC transcription factor SlNOR-like1 knockout mutants (nor-like1) produced by CRISPR/Cas9 [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9] displayed reduced cutin deposition and cuticle thickness, with a microcracking phenotype, while wax accumulation was promoted. Further research revealed that SlNOR-like1 promotes cutin deposition by binding to the promoters of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase6 (SlGPAT6; a key gene for cutin monomer formation) and CUTIN DEFICIENT2 (SlCD2; a positive regulator of cutin production) to activate their expression. Meanwhile, SlNOR-like1 inhibits wax accumulation, acting as a transcriptional repressor by targeting wax biosynthesis, and transport-related genes 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase1 (SlKCS1), ECERIFERUM 1-2 (SlCER1-2), SlWAX2, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer protein 1-like (SlLTPG1-like). In conclusion, SlNOR-like1 executes a dual regulatory effect on tomato fruit cuticle development. Our results provide a new model for the transcriptional regulation of fruit cuticle formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang-Shuai Liu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Donald Grierson
- Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Plant Sciences Division, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ying Gao
- Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Development Regulation of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Peng
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hong-Li Li
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Niu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wen Jia
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jian-Lin He
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lan-Ting Xiang
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hai-Yan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Post-Harvest Handing of Fruits, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest and Processing Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Postharvest Preservation and Processing of Fruits and Vegetables, China National Light Industry, Food Science Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Gui-Qin Qu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Hong-Liang Zhu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ben-Zhong Zhu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yun-Bo Luo
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Da-Qi Fu
- Laboratory of Fruit Biology, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Guan D, Zhao Y, Zhao X, Fu D. Metabolomics Study of the Effect of Transcription Factor NOR-like1 on Flavonoids in Tomato at Different Stages of Maturity Using UPLC-MS/MS. Foods 2023; 12:4445. [PMID: 38137249 PMCID: PMC10742431 DOI: 10.3390/foods12244445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tomato fruits are rich in flavonoids. This study explores the effect of transcription factor SlNOR-like1 on the accumulation of flavonoids in tomato fruits at different ripening stages. We used ultra-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze wild-type (WT) and NOR-like1 CRISPR/Cas9-edited (NOR-like1) tomato fruits. A total of 50 flavonoid metabolites were accurately identified and determined in tomatoes. The flavonoid metabolic differences were observed among the different tomato sample groups using PCA and OPLS-DA analysis. There were 16 differential flavonoids (13 upregulated and 3 downregulated) identified between WT-GR (WT tomato at the green-ripening stage) and NOR-like1-GR (NOR-like1 tomato at the green-ripening stage), 9 differential flavonoids (six upregulated and three downregulated) identified between WT-BR3 (WT tomato at the color-breaking stage) and NOR-like1-BR3 (NOR-like1 tomato at the color-breaking stage), and 12 differential flavonoids (11 upregulated and 1 downregulated) identified between WT-BR9 (WT tomato at the red-ripening stage) and NOR-like1-BR9 (NOR-like1 tomato at the red-ripening stage). Rutin, nicotiflorin, naringenin chalcone, eriodictyol, and naringenin-7-glucoside were the five flavonoids with the highest content in the ripening stages (BR3 and BR9) in both WT and NOR-like1 tomato fruits. The overall flavonoid contents in WT tomato fruits changed little from GR to BR3 and decreased from BR3 to BR9; meanwhile, in the NOR-like1 tomato fruits, the total amounts of the flavonoids exhibited an increasing trend during all three ripening stages. The accumulation pattern of flavonoid metabolites in NOR-like1 tomato fruits differed from that in WT tomato fruits, especially in the later ripening process of BR9. The transcription factor SlNOR-like1 has an impact on the accumulation of flavonoids in tomato fruits. The results provide a preliminary basis for subsequent research into its regulatory mechanism and will be helpful for attaining future improvements in the nutritional quality and postharvest treatment of tomato fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Guan
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ying Zhao
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Xiaodan Zhao
- School of Food and Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Daqi Fu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Chen C, Zhao YY, Wang D, Ren YH, Liu HL, Tian Y, Geng YF, Tang YR, Chen XF. Effects of nanoscale zinc oxide treatment on growth, rhizosphere microbiota, and metabolism of Aconitum carmichaelii. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16177. [PMID: 37868063 PMCID: PMC10590109 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trace elements play a crucial role in the growth and bioactive substance content of medicinal plants, but their utilization efficiency in soil is often low. In this study, soil and Aconitum carmichaelii samples were collected and measured from 22 different locations, followed by an analysis of the relationship between trace elements and the yield and alkaloid content of the plants. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between zinc, trace elements in the soil, and the yield and alkaloid content of A. carmichaelii. Subsequent treatment of A. carmichaelii with both bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrated that the use of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced plant growth and monoester-type alkaloid content. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects, metabolomic analysis was performed, resulting in the identification of 38 differentially expressed metabolites in eight metabolic pathways between the two treatments. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the rhizosphere bacterial communities, with Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota identified as valuable biomarkers for ZnO NP treatment. Covariation analysis further revealed significant correlations between specific microbial communities and metabolite expression levels. These findings provide compelling evidence that nanoscale zinc exhibits much higher utilization efficiency compared to traditional zinc fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cun Chen
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu-yang Zhao
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Duo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying-hong Ren
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong-ling Liu
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Sichuan Jianengda Panxi Pharmaceutical Co. LTD, Xichang, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue-fei Geng
- Sichuan Jianengda Panxi Pharmaceutical Co. LTD, Xichang, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying-rui Tang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Characteristic Horticultural Biological Resources, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xing-fu Chen
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Mellidou I, Koukounaras A, Frusciante S, Rambla JL, Patelou E, Ntoanidou S, Pons C, Kostas S, Nikoloudis K, Granell A, Diretto G, Kanellis AK. A metabolome and transcriptome survey to tap the dynamics of fruit prolonged shelf-life and improved quality within Greek tomato germplasm. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1267340. [PMID: 37818313 PMCID: PMC10560995 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1267340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Tomato is a high economic value crop worldwide with recognized nutritional properties and diverse postharvest potential. Nowadays, there is an emerging awareness about the exploitation and utilization of underutilized traditional germplasm in modern breeding programs. In this context, the existing diversity among Greek accessions in terms of their postharvest life and nutritional value remains largely unexplored. Methods Herein, a detailed evaluation of 130 tomato Greek accessions for postharvest and nutritional characteristics was performed, using metabolomics and transcriptomics, leading to the selection of accessions with these interesting traits. Results The results showed remarkable differences among tomato Greek accessions for overall ripening parameters (color, firmness) and weight loss. On the basis of their postharvest performance, a balance between short shelf life (SSL) and long shelf life (LSL) accessions was revealed. Metabolome analysis performed on 14 selected accessions with contrasting shelf-life potential identified a total of 206 phytonutrients and volatile compounds. In turn, transcriptome analysis in fruits from the best SSL and the best LSL accessions revealed remarkable differences in the expression profiles of transcripts involved in key metabolic pathways related to fruit quality and postharvest potential. Discussion The pathways towards cell wall synthesis, polyamine synthesis, ABA catabolism, and steroidal alkaloids synthesis were mostly induced in the LSL accession, whereas those related to ethylene biosynthesis, cell wall degradation, isoprenoids, phenylpropanoids, ascorbic acid and aroma (TomloxC) were stimulated in the SSL accession. Overall, these data would provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanism towards enhancing shelf-life and improving flavor and aroma of modern tomato cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Mellidou
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DEMETER, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Koukounaras
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sarah Frusciante
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - José L. Rambla
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
- Department of Biology, Biochemistry and Natural Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Efstathia Patelou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Symela Ntoanidou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Clara Pons
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Stefanos Kostas
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Gianfranco Diretto
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelos K. Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Wang Y, Hao R, Guo R, Nong H, Qin Y, Dong N. Integrative Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals Molecular Insight into Metabolomic Variations during Hawthorn Fruit Development. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030423. [PMID: 36984863 PMCID: PMC10054872 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida var. major), a cultivated fruit tree, is native and unique to China. Its fruits have high nutritional, health, and medicinal values. However, the development and ripening process of hawthorns is accompanied by dramatic changes in flavor, aroma, and bioactive phytochemicals, which are the fundamental factors that contribute to the potential health benefits and establishment of fruit quality. Therefore, an exploration of the dynamic changes in metabolites and their regulatory networks during the development of hawthorn fruits can elucidate the formation mechanisms of active substances in hawthorn fruits. In this study, we used a broad targeted metabolomics approach to identify and analyze the dynamics of metabolites in hawthorn fruits at five developmental stages. The results revealed 998 primary and secondary metabolites that were classified into 15 categories. The accumulation levels of most sugars increased during fruit development and then accelerated at the fruit ripening stage. The accumulation levels of a few organic acids (e.g., citric acid, isocitric acid, and quinic acid) continuously increased. Many organic acids exhibited significant decreasing trends. Among the 561 secondary metabolites detected, 189 were phenolic acids and 199 were flavonoids. The levels of many flavonoids were significantly reduced at later stages of fruit development; in contrast, the levels of two anthocyanins significantly increased during fruit ripening. Correlation analysis revealed that there is a certain correlation within and between primary as well as secondary metabolites during fruit development. Furthermore, the integration of metabolomic and transcriptomic data in this study revealed that changes in the expression of some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with the accumulation of metabolites such as sugars, organic acids, and flavonoids, e.g., the upregulated expression levels of CS (citrate synthase) genes were consistent with the continued accumulation of citric acid. Overall, this study demonstrates the metabolic changes that occur during the development of hawthorn fruit, explores the molecular mechanisms that underlie metabolite changes during fruit development, and lays a strong theoretical foundation for the improvement of hawthorn fruit quality and the development of functional components.
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