Abstract

A full-length cDNA of LeCOP1 was isolated from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Phylogenetic analysis based on the deduced amino acid sequence of LeCOP1 cDNA revealed high sequence similarity to COP1 protein in Ipomoea nil (84% identity) and inArabidopsis (77%). LeCOP1 shared high sequence identity with a hypothetical protein in Vitis vinifera and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase COP1 in Pisum sativum (76%).LeCOP1 gene exists single copy in the tomato genome. Expression of LeCOP1 gene under abiotic and oxidative stresses was investigated, including exposure to 200 mM NaCl, 200 mM mannitol, cold (4°C), 100 μM abscisic acid (ABA), 10 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and 50 μM methyl vilogen (MV). LeCOP1 was significantly respectively induced at 1, 6, and 24 h after mannitol, NaCl and cold treatment. It was also induced after H₂O₂ treatment at 24 h. However, LeCOP1 was not induced by MV treatment. These observations suggest that LeCOP1 gene may be involved in abiotic and oxidative stresses.

Key words: LeCOP1, Lycopersicon esculentum, abiotic stress, oxidative stress.