High mobility group A3 enhances transcription of the DNA demethylase gene SlDML2 to promote tomato fruit ripening

• DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac063
• Publication Date: 2022-02-12T12:07:56Z
• Authors: Zhifei Li; Ying Pi; Junmiao Fan; Xinxin Yang; Changsheng Zhai; Hong Chen; Feng Wang; Jing Ding; Tingting Gu; Yi Li; Han Wu
• Keywords: Demethylation; Demethylase; DNA demethylation; Transcription

DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening. Although SlDML2, a demethylase (DML) gene, is critically involved ripening, little known about genes that regulate its expression. Using yeast one-hybrid screening, we identified High Mobility Group A protein, named SlHMGA3, and demonstrated binding activity to the AT-rich region of SlDML2 promoter. We produced slhmga3 mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 observed reached breaker stage much later than from wild-type. further at initiation increased expression ethylene biosynthetic signaling was significantly delayed fruit, along with delays production demethylation activation ripening-associated transcription factor genes. Our results demonstrate SlHMGA3 enhancing expression, effects on ripening are largely through