Expression analysis and functional characterization of tomato Tubby-like protein family

Jiaojiao Zhang; Xinman Wang; Xiaonan Dong; Fei Wang; Lingling Cao; Shuangtao Li; Ziji Liu; Xichun Zhang; Yang-Dong Guo; Bing Zhao; Na Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111454

Expression analysis and functional characterization of tomato Tubby-like protein family

Plant Sci. 2022 Nov:324:111454. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111454. Epub 2022 Sep 8.

Authors

Jiaojiao Zhang¹, Xinman Wang¹, Xiaonan Dong¹, Fei Wang¹, Lingling Cao², Shuangtao Li³, Ziji Liu⁴, Xichun Zhang⁵, Yang-Dong Guo⁶, Bing Zhao⁷, Na Zhang⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
² Beijing Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Beijing 100029, China.
³ Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
⁴ Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China.
⁵ School of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing Agricultural University, Beijing 102206, China.
⁶ College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572000, China. Electronic address: yaguo@cau.edu.cn.
⁷ College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: zhaobing@cau.edu.cn.
⁸ College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572000, China. Electronic address: zhangna_cau@163.com.

PMID: 36089197
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111454

Abstract

Tubby-like protein (TLP) plays an important role in plant growth and development. In this investigation, the characteristics of 11 members in the SlTLP family were studied. SlTLP genes were classified into two subgroups, and the members containing the F-box domain were renamed SlTLFPs. Subcellular localization indicated that most of the SlTLPs were localized in the nucleus. Expression pattern analysis revealed that eight genes (SlTLFP1, 3, 5, 7-10, and SlTLP11) showed differential expression across various tissues, while SlTLFP2, 4, and 6 were widely expressed in all the organs tested. Most SlTLP genes were induced by biotic and abiotic stress treatments such as Botrytis cinerea, temperature, MeJA, and ABA. TLP proteins in tomato have no transcriptional activation activity, and most members with an F-box domain could interact with SUPPRESSOR OF KINETOCHORE PROTEIN 1 (SlSkp1) or Cullin1 (Cul1) or both. Experiments on CRISPR edited SlTLFP8 showed that the N-terminal F-box domain was necessary for its function such as DNA ploidy and stomata size regulation. Our findings suggested that the F-box domain interacts with Skp1 and Cul1 to form the SCF complex, suggesting that SlTLFPs, at least SlTLFP8, function mainly through the F-box domain as an E3 ligase.

Keywords: E3 ubiquitin ligase; F-box protein; Solanum lycopersicum; Subcellular localization; Transactivation activity; Tubby domain.

MeSH terms

DNA / metabolism
F-Box Proteins* / genetics
Plant Proteins / genetics
Plant Proteins / metabolism
Solanum lycopersicum* / metabolism
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

F-Box Proteins
Plant Proteins
DNA
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases