title: The F-box family genes as key elements in response to salt, heavy mental, and drought stresses in Medicago truncatula.
abstract: F-box protein is a subunit of Skp1-Rbx1-Cul1-F-box protein (SCF) complex with typically conserved F-box motifs of approximately 40 amino acids and is one of the largest protein families in eukaryotes. F-box proteins play critical roles in selective and specific protein degradation through the 26S proteasome. In this study, we bioinformatically identified 972 putative F-box proteins from Medicago truncatula genome. Our analysis showed that in addition to the conserved motif, the F-box proteins have several other functional domains in their C-terminal regions (e.g., LRRs, Kelch, FBA, and PP2), some of which were found to be M. truncatula species-specific. By phylogenetic analysis of the F-box motifs, these proteins can be classified into three major families, and each family can be further grouped into more subgroups. Analysis of the genomic distribution of F-box genes on M. truncatula chromosomes revealed that the evolutional expansion of F-box genes in M. truncatula was probably due to localized gene duplications. To investigate the possible response of the F-box genes to abiotic stresses, both publicly available and customer-prepared microarrays were analyzed. Most of the F-box protein genes can be responding to salt and heavy metal stresses. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed that some of the F-box protein genes containing heat, drought, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid responsive cis-elements were able to respond to the abiotic stresses.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang No. 1, Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors: Jian Bo
authors: JB
authors: Song
authors: Yan Xiang
authors: YX
authors: Wang
authors: Hai Bo
authors: HB
authors: Li
authors: Bo Wen
authors: BW
authors: Li
authors: Zhao Sheng
authors: ZS
authors: Zhou
authors: Shuai
authors: S
authors: Gao
authors: Zhi Min
authors: ZM
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D055864:Droughts; D044783:F-Box Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017343:Genes, Plant; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D044783:F-Box Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010940:Plant Proteins