Identification, evolutionary profiling, and expression analysis of F-box superfamily genes under phosphate deficiency in tomato

F-box genes are an integral component of the Skp1-cullin-F-box (SCF) complex in eukaryotes. These genes are primarily involved in determining substrate specificities during cellular proteolysis. Here we report that 410 members constitute the F-box superfamily in tomato. Based on the incidence of C-terminal domains, these genes fell into ten subfamilies, leucine-rich repeat domain-containing F-box members constituting the largest subfamily. The F-box genes are present on all 12 chromosomes with varying gene densities. Both segmental and tandem duplication events contribute significantly to their expansion in the tomato genome. The syntenic analysis revealed close relationships among F-box homologs within Solanaceae species genomes. Transcript profiling of F-box members identified several ripening-associated genes with altered expression in the ripening mutants. RNA-sequencing data analysis showed that phosphate (Pi) deficiency affected 55 F-box transcripts in the Pi-deficient seedlings compared to their control seedlings. The persistent up-regulation of eight members, including two phloem protein 2B (PP2-B) genes, PP2-B15, and MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST 66 (MEE66) homologs, at multiple time-points in the roots, shoot, and seedling, point towards their pivotal roles in Pi starvation response in tomato. The attenuation of such upregulation in sucrose absence revealed the necessity of this metabolite for robust activation of these genes in the Pi-deficient seedlings. Altogether, this study identifies novel F-box genes with potential roles in fruit ripening and Pi starvation response and unlocks new avenues for functional characterization of candidate genes in tomato and other related species.