AUTHOR=Chen Rui , Gu Gang , Zhang Binghui , Du Chaofan , Lin Xiaolu , Cai Weiwei , Zheng Yan , Li Tong , Wang Ruiqi , Xie Xiaofang 

TITLE=Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase gene family related to bacterial wilt resistance in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1425651

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1425651

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The E3 enzyme in the UPS pathway is a crucial factor for inhibiting substrate specificity. In Solanaceae, the U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase has a complex relationship with plant growth and development, and plays a pivotal role in responding to various biotic and abiotic stresses. The analysis of the <italic>U-box</italic> gene family in Solanaceae and its expression profile under different stresses holds significant implications. A total of 116 tobacco <italic>NtU-boxs</italic> and 56 eggplant <italic>SmU-boxs</italic> were identified based on their respective genome sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of <italic>U-box</italic> genes in tobacco, eggplant, tomato, <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>, pepper, and potato revealed five distinct subgroups (I-V). Gene structure and protein motifs analysis found a high degree of conservation in both exon/intron organization and protein motifs among tobacco and eggplant <italic>U-box</italic> genes especially the members within the same subfamily. A total of 15 pairs of segmental duplication and 1 gene pair of tandem duplication were identified in tobacco based on the analysis of gene duplication events, while 10 pairs of segmental duplication in eggplant. It is speculated that segmental duplication events are the primary driver for the expansion of the <italic>U-box</italic> gene family in both tobacco and eggplant. The promoters of <italic>NtU-box</italic> and <italic>SmU-box</italic> genes contained <italic>cis</italic>-regulatory elements associated with cellular development, phytohormones, environment stress, and photoresponsive elements. Transcriptomic data analysis shows that the expression levels of the tobacco and eggplant <italic>U-box</italic> genes in different tissues and various abiotic stress conditions. Using cultivar Hongda of tobacco and cultivar Yanzhi of eggplant as materials, qRT-PCR analysis has revealed that 15 selected <italic>NtU-box</italic> genes and 8 <italic>SmU-box</italic> may play important roles in response to pathogen <italic>Ras</italic> invasion both in tobacco and eggplant.</p>