A DEMETER-like DNA demethylase governs tomato fruit ripening.
In plants, genomic DNA methylation which contributes to development and stress responses can be actively removed by DEMETER-like DNA demethylases (DMLs). Indeed, in Arabidopsis DMLs are important for maternal imprinting and endosperm demethylation, but only a few studies demonstrate the developmental roles of active DNA demethylation conclusively in this plant. Here, we show a direct cause and effect relationship between active DNA demethylation mainly mediated by the tomato DML, SlDML2, and fruit ripening- an important developmental process unique to plants. RNAi SlDML2 knockdown results in ripening inhibition via hypermethylation and repression of the expression of genes encoding ripening transcription factors and rate-limiting enzymes of key biochemical processes such as carotenoid synthesis. Our data demonstrate that active DNA demethylation is central to the control of ripening in tomato.
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Ruie
R
Liu
Laboratory for Functional Genomics, Fondation Jean Dausset-Centre d'Études du Polymorphisme Humain, F-75010 Paris, France;
Alexandre
A
How-Kit
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Linda
L
Stammitti
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Emeline
E
Teyssier
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Dominique
D
Rolin
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Anne
A
Mortain-Bertrand
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Stefanie
S
Halle
Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique-École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Toulouse, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France;
Mingchun
M
Liu
Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China;
Junhua
J
Kong
Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China;
Chaoqun
C
Wu
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Charlotte
C
Degraeve-Guibault
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5RD, United Kingdom;
Natalie H
NH
Chapman
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France;
Mickael
M
Maucourt
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5RD, United Kingdom;
T Charlie
TC
Hodgman
Laboratory for Functional Genomics, Fondation Jean Dausset-Centre d'Études du Polymorphisme Humain, F-75010 Paris, France; Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Génotypage, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique-Institut de Génomique, 91000 Evry, France;
Jörg
J
Tost
Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique-École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Toulouse, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; Laboratoire de Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France;
Mondher
M
Bouzayen
Research Center for Plant RNA Signaling, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China; School of Life Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom;
Yiguo
Y
Hong
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, Leics LE12 5RD, United Kingdom;
Graham B
GB
Seymour
United States Department of Agriculture, Robert W. Holley Center and Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
James J
JJ
Giovannoni
Laboratory of Fruit Biology and Pathology, University of Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, CS20032 Villenave d'Ornon, France; philippe.gallusci@bordeaux.inra.fr.
Philippe
P
Gallusci
D045647:DNA Glycosylases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D034622:RNA Interference
D018744:DNA, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D045647:DNA Glycosylases
DNA glycosylase lyase; active DNA demethylation; epigenetic; fruit ripening; tomato