Molecular Cloning and Characterization of LeEBF1 and LeEBF2 from Tomato

Abstract

Two full-length cDNAs of LeEBF1(EIN3 binding F-box protein 1)and LeEBF2(EIN3 binding F-box protein 2)were cloned from tomato(Solanum lycopersicum) by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends(RACE).They were 2 866 and 2 891 bp,with open reading frame(ORF) of 1 911 bp and 1 995 bp,encoding 637 and 665 amino acids,respectively.Putative LeEBF1 and LeEBF2 proteins,each containing a well-conserved F-box motif in the amino terminus and 14 tandem leucine-rich repeats(LRRs) in the carboxyl terminus,shared 58.6% of identity with each other.Identities with other species EBF proteins within F box motif ranged from 24.4% to 73.2%.Northern blot analysis results indicated that the expression levels of LeEBF1 and LeEBF2 in young leaves were higher than those in mature leaves of wild type and Nr.During the development of fruits,LeEBF1 and LeEBF2 expressed relatively weaker at IMG stage than at other stages tested.In a conclusion,LeEBF1 and LeEBF2 may play an important role in leaf and fruit development of tomato.