Functional characterization of plant specific Indeterminate Domain (IDD) transcription factors in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) are responsible for regulating the genes involved in the development of plant-specific organs and response systems for adaptation to terrestrial environments. This includes the development of efficient water transport systems, efficient reproductive organs, and the ability to withstand the effects of terrestrial factors, such as UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and soil-related stress factors, and evolutionary advantages over land predators. In rice and Arabidopsis, INDETERMINATE DOMAIN (IDD) TFs are plant-specific TFs with crucial functions, such as development, reproduction, and stress response. However, in tomatoes, IDD TFs remain uncharacterized. Here, we examined the presence, distribution, structure, characteristics, and expression patterns of SlIDDs. Database searches, multiple alignments, and motif alignments suggested that 24 TFs were related to Arabidopsis IDDs. 18 IDDs had two characteristic C2H2 domains and two C2HC domains in their coding regions. Expression analyses suggest that some IDDs exhibit multi-stress responsive properties and can respond to specific stress conditions, while others can respond to multiple stress conditions in shoots and roots, either in a tissue-specific or universal manner. Moreover, co-expression database analyses suggested potential interaction partners within IDD family and other proteins. This study functionally characterized SlIDDs, which can be studied using molecular and bioinformatics methods for crop improvement. © The Author(s) 2024.