Fig. 5

CRISPR/dCas9-based epigenetic modifier during fruit ripening process in tomato, sweet orange, and strawberry. A CRISPR/dCas9 based epigenetic modifier in tomato fruit ripening. The DNA demethylase can be engineered to fuse to dCas9 system. In tomato fruit ripening process, the expression of DNA demethylase DME-LIKE 2 (DML2) increases, leading to decrease of 5-methlcytosine (5mC) DNA level at various gene loci, such as RIN, CNR, and NOR. B CRISPR/dCas9 based epigenetic modifier in sweet orange fruit ripening process. DNA methyltransferase could be engineered to fuse to dCas9 system. During sweet orange fruit ripening, DNA demethylase genes are downregulated, leading to the upregulation of 5mC DNA methylation level. C CRISPR/dCas9 based epigenetic modifier in strawberry fruit ripening process. DNA methyltransferase could be engineered to fuse to dCas9 system for promoting strawberry fruit ripening. As strawberry fruit ripening, the activity of RNA-directed DNA methylation is reduced, resulting in a decrease in the DNA methylation level. Diagrams were drawn based on publications (Liu et al. 2015; Cheng et al. 2018; Huang et al. 2019; Chen et al. 2020)