Apple (Malus domestica) MdERF2 negatively affects ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening by suppressing MdACS1 transcription

Summary Ripening in climacteric fruit requires the gaseous phytohormone ethylene. Although ethylene signaling has been well studied, knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis is still limited. Here we show that an apple (Malus domestica) ethylene response factor, MdERF2, n...

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Published in:	The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology 2016-12, Vol.88 (5), p.735-748
Main Authors:	Li, Tong, Jiang, Zhongyu, Zhang, Lichao, Tan, Dongmei, Wei, Yun, Yuan, Hui, Li, Tianlai, Wang, Aide
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	ACS apple Biosynthesis Botany Enzymes Ethylene ethylene response factor Ethylenes - metabolism Fruit - genetics Fruit - metabolism fruit ripening Fruits Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Malus - genetics Malus - metabolism Malus domestica Plant Proteins - genetics Plant Proteins - metabolism protein interaction Tomatoes
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Summary:	Summary Ripening in climacteric fruit requires the gaseous phytohormone ethylene. Although ethylene signaling has been well studied, knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis is still limited. Here we show that an apple (Malus domestica) ethylene response factor, MdERF2, negatively affects ethylene biosynthesis and fruit ripening by suppressing the transcription of MdACS1, a gene that is critical for biosynthesis of ripening‐related ethylene. Expression of MdERF2 was suppressed by ethylene during ripening of apple fruit, and we observed that MdERF2 bound to the promoter of MdACS1 and directly suppressed its transcription. Moreover, MdERF2 suppressed the activity of the promoter of MdERF3, a transcription factor that we found to bind to the MdACS1 promoter, thereby increasing MdACS1 transcription. We determined that the MdERF2 and MdERF3 proteins directly interact, and this interaction suppresses the binding of MdERF3 to the MdACS1 promoter. Moreover, apple fruit with transiently downregulated MdERF2 expression showed higher ethylene production and faster ripening. Our results indicate that MdERF2 negatively affects ethylene biosynthesis and fruit ripening in apple by suppressing the transcription of MdACS1 via multiple mechanisms, thereby acting as an antagonist of positive ripening regulators. Our findings offer a deep understanding of the transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis during climacteric fruit ripening. Significance Statement Fruit ripening in climacteric fruit requires the gaseous phytohormone ethylene. Knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis is still limited. Here we show that an apple (Malus domestica) ethylene response factor, MdERF2, acts as a negative regulator of ethylene biosynthesis and fruit ripening by suppressing the transcription of MdACS1, which encodes 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid synthase, the rate‐limiting enzyme for ethylene biosynthesis.
ISSN:	0960-7412 1365-313X