Structural and functional characterization of Tomato gene.

Small ubiquitin-related modifier () genes regulate various functions of target proteins through post-translational modification. The SUMO proteins have a similar 3-dimensional structure as that of ubiquitin proteins and occur through a cascade of enzymatic reactions. In the present study we have cloned a new SUMO gene from Tomato ( L.), cv Saudi-1, named gene by PCR using specific primers. This gene has SUMO member's features such as C-terminal diglycine (GG) motif as processing site by ULP (ubiquitin-like SUMO protease) and has SUMO consensus ΨKXE/D sequence. Phylogenetic analysis showed that gene is highly conserved and homologous to Potatoes and genes based on sequence similarity. Expression protein of gene found to be localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and nuclear envelop or nuclear pore complex. SUMO conjugating enzyme SCE1a with SlS-SUMO1 protein co-expressed and co-localized in nucleus and formed nuclear subdomains. This study reported that the gene is a member of SUMO family and its SUMO protein processing using GG motif and activate and transport to nucleus through Sumoylation system in the plant cell.