Zhejiang University Reveals the Coordinated Regulation Mechanism of Transcription Factors and DNA Methylation in Peach Fruit Ripening
Published:29 Dec.2023 Source:BioArt Plant
A recent study by the Zhejiang University research team has uncovered that the transcription factor PpNAC1 and the DNA demethylase PpDML1 cooperatively regulate the process of peach fruit ripening by mutually activating their expressions.
The research demonstrates that PpNAC1 can directly initiate the transcription of a series of ripening-related genes. Simultaneously, during fruit ripening, the level of DNA methylation decreases, and the upregulation of PpNAC1 expression is associated with a reduction in promoter region methylation. On the other hand, increased expression of PpDML1 leads to genome-wide DNA demethylation during the ripening process.
Further analysis indicates that PpNAC1 can activate the expression of PpDML1, while the demethylation activity of PpDML1 affects the expression of PpNAC1. The mutual activation of these two components collectively promotes the maturation and flavor development of peach fruit. This discovery reveals a synergistic mechanism between transcription and epigenetic regulation, providing a novel avenue for optimizing fruit quality.