Identification of TIFY/JAZ family genes in Solanum lycopersicum and their regulation in response to abiotic stresses.

Andrea Chini,Mourad A M Aboul-Soud,Walid Ben-Romdhane,Afif Hassairi,Miguel A Blazquez

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0177381

Abstract

Plant phenotypic plasticity determines plant adaptation to changing environments and agricultural productivity. Phytohormones are essential plant signalling molecules regulating this plasticity through complex signalling networks. Jasmonates (JAs) are key phytohormones regulating many aspects of growth, development and defence responses. An important role of JAs in tolerance to abiotic stresses is also emerging. The expression of JAZ (JASMONATE-ZIM-DOMAIN PROTEIN) genes, encoding for the key repressors in the JA-pathway, is regulated by multiple abiotic stresses, suggesting a role for the JAZ proteins in response to these stresses. The JAZ proteins belong to the TIFY family, well described in many plant species. However, only the role of few tomato JAZ proteins in response to microbial infection has been analysed so far. Here, we identify the members of the tomato TIFY family, and characterize them phylogenetically. In addition, we analyse the transcriptional regulation of several SlJAZ in response to abiotic stresses and hormone treatments both in root and leaves to assess their specific expression in response to stresses. Most SlJAZ are JA-induced and responsive to one or more abiotic stresses, providing clues for functional analysis of JAZ genes in abiotic responses in tomato.

Highlights

Plants are sessile organisms that need to adapt to the ever-changing environment to survive and prosper
In order to identify all members of the tomato TIFY gene family, BLAST searches with default parameters were employed using as prey the amino acid sequence of the complete Arabidopsis TIFY proteins, as well as of the TIFY and Jas motifs, in several Genome Databases: Plant Genome and Systems Biology (PGSB, www.pgsb.helmholtz-muenchen.de/plant/tomato), Sol Genomics Network (SGN, www.solgenomics.net) and Plants Ensembel
To identify all putative tomato SlTIFY proteins, the Arabidopsis TIFY protein sequences were employed for search in different Genome Databases (PGSB, SGN and Plants Ensembel)

Summary

Introduction

Plants are sessile organisms that need to adapt to the ever-changing environment to survive and prosper. Plants are constantly exposed to a myriad of different organisms such pathogens, pests or beneficial microorganisms that alter the plant-environment equilibrium. Endogenous and external inputs are integrated in complex signalling networks regulating plant-environment and plant-organism communications and, plant survival. Phytohormones, play a pivotal role in these signalling networks and regulate countless adaptive responses to both biotic and abiotic challenges. Jasmonates (JAs) were described as defence signals regulating responses to biotic stresses[1,2].

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Conclusion