Genomic Analysis of the SUMO-Conjugating Enzyme and Genes under Abiotic Stress in Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.)

Abstract

SUMO-conjugating enzymes (SCE) and SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifiers) genes are important components of SUMOylation. SCE has a crucial role during the SUMOylation process which acts as a catalyst to transfer SUMO to the target protein. Comprehensive studies on SCE and SUMO have been performed in some plants, but studies on these genes remain limited in potato. This study is aimed at exploring the role of <i>StSCE</i> and <i>StSUMO</i> genes in abiotic stress conditions. Nine and seven putative <i>StSCE</i>s and <i>StSUMO</i> genes, respectively, were identified using different methods and databases available for potato. Chromosomal localization showed that <i>SCE</i> and <i>StSUMO</i> genes are unevenly distributed on 7 different chromosomes. Potato genome database was accessed for the expression profile of <i>StSCE</i> and <i>StSUMO</i> genes, and these genes were differentially expressed in different tissues and organs during different phases of plant growth. The expression patterns on different treatments were further evaluated using qRT-PCR for all the <i>StSCE</i> and St<i>SUMO</i> genes. The expression was upregulated in <i>StSCE1/5/6</i> and <i>7</i> under salt and PEG treatment. <i>StSUMO 1/2</i> and <i>4</i> were upregulated under salt stress whereas <i>StSCE9</i> and <i>StSUMO2</i> and <i>4</i> were observed downregulated under PEG treatment. The results of this study could be useful to explore the role of <i>StSCE</i> genes in potato improvement.