Nitric oxide counters ethylene effects on ripening fruits

Ethylene plays a key role in promoting fruit ripening, so altering
its biosynthesis/signaling could be an important means to
delay this process. Nitric oxide (NO)-generated signals are now
being shown to regulate ethylene pathways. NO signals have
been shown to transcriptionally repress the expression of
genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis enzymes and posttranslationally
modify methionine adenosyl transferase (MAT)
activity through S-nitrosylation to reduce the availably of methyl
groups required to produce ethylene. Additionally, NO crosstalks
with plant hormones and other signal molecules and act to
orchestrate the suppression of ethylene effects by modulating
enzymes/proteins that are generally triggered by ethylene
signaling at post-climacteric stage. Thus, medication of
endogenous NO production is suggested as a strategy to
postpone the climacteric stage of many tropical fruits.