Gene structure and spatiotemporal expression profile of tomato genes encoding YUCCA-like flavin monooxygenases: The ToFZY gene family

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry 2011-07, Vol.49 (7), p.782-791
• Main Authors: Expósito-Rodríguez, Marino, Borges, Andrés A., Borges-Pérez, Andrés, Pérez, José A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Motifs; Amino Acid Sequence; Auxin; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Flavin monooxygenase; Flavins - metabolism; Flowers - genetics; Flowers - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; FZY; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant - genetics; IAA; Indole-3-acetic acid; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; Lycopersicon esculentum - enzymology; Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics; Lycopersicon esculentum - growth & development; Mixed Function Oxygenases - genetics; Mixed Function Oxygenases - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Multigene Family; Phylogeny; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant physiology and development; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Roots - metabolism; Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - growth & development; Plants, Genetically Modified - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Plant - genetics; Seeds - genetics; Seeds - metabolism; Sequence Analysis, DNA; ToFZY; Triptamine; Tryptamines - metabolism; YUCCA-like FMO
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2011.02.022

The flavin monooxygenases (FMO) encoded by plant YUCCA genes are thought to catalyze a rate-limiting step in the tryptamine pathway for indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis. Recent experiments with different plant models have indicate that YUCCA genes play essential roles in growth and development through their contribution to the local pool of free auxin. In this study we have characterized five new genes that encode YUCCA-like FMOs in the tomato genome ( ToFZY2 to ToFZY6), including gene structure, conserved motifs and phylogenetic analyses. As a first step towards clarifying the individual functions of ToFZY genes, we have used quantitative real-time RT-PCR to conduct a systematic comparison of the steady-state mRNA levels of 6 ToFZY genes, in 33 samples representing major organs and the entire tomato life cycle. We followed an absolute quantification strategy which allowed us to cross-compare transcript levels among different ToFZY genes in a given spatiotemporal coordinate. Our results indicate that expression of ToFZY genes is temporally and spatially regulated, and that the distinctive expression pattern of each ToFZY gene partially overlaps with other members of the multigenic family. We compare our data with previous results in other plant species and make some predictions about the role of tryptamine pathway in tomato growth and development. ► We report the identification and structural analysis of new ToFZYs genes. ► We analysed of expression profiles over the course of the plant life cycle. ► The information provides a framework to explore the role of the tryptamine pathway for IAA biosynthesis.