Transcriptome analysis of rin mutant fruit and in silico analysis of promoters of differentially regulated genes provides insight into LeMADS-RIN-regulated ethylene-dependent as well as ethylene-independent aspects of ripening in tomato

A thorough understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying ripening is the prerequisite for genetic manipulation of fruits for better shelf-life and nutritional quality. Mutation in LeMADS-RIN, a MADS-box gene, leads to non-ripening phenotype of rin fruits in tomato. Characterization of ripening-inhibitor (rin) mutant has elucidated important role of ethylene in the regulation of climacteric fruit ripening. A complete understanding of this mutation will unravel novel genetic regulatory mechanisms involved in fruit ripening. In this study, fruit transcriptomes of two genotypes, including a cultivated Indian cultivar Solanum lycopersicum cv. Pusa Ruby and a homozygous line harboring the rin mutation (LA1795) were compared to get better insight into RIN-regulated ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent events during ripening. Cluster analysis of ripening-related genes indicated a major shift in their expression profiles in rin mutant fruit. A total of 112 genes, exhibiting expression patterns similar to that of LeMADS-RIN in wild-type fruits, showed down regulation of expression in the rin mutant. In silico analysis of putative promoters of these genes for the presence of CArG box along with ERE and ethylene inducibility of these genes revealed that genes lacking CArG box in their regulatory regions could be indirectly regulated by LeMADS-RIN. New regulators of ethylene-dependent aspect of ripening were also identified. In this study, we have made an attempt to distinguish between ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent aspects of ripening, which will be useful for developing strategies to improve fruit-related agronomic traits in tomato and other crops.