The DNA Demethylase CaDML2 Functions as a Transcriptional Activator in the Control of Pepper Fruit Ripening.

CaDML2 is linked to strong activation of DNA demethylation during non-climacteric pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit ripening, promoting ABA accumulation and carotenoid synthesis.

• Why it matters: DNA methylation changes are known to shape ripening, but how these epigenetic dynamics regulate non-climacteric pepper ripening and carotenoid-based metabolism is unclear.
• What they did: The study profiled methylation during pepper fruit ripening and tested CaDML2 function by silencing it in pepper and by heterologous expression in tomato sldml2 mutants.
• The result: CaDML2 demethylates promoter cytosines of targets including RIN, DIVARICATA1, CCS, and NCED1, increasing their transcription and enabling delayed ripening when CaDML2 is silenced and restored ripening when expressed in tomato mutants.

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