A RING membrane-anchor E3 ubiquitin ligase gene is co-expressed with steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis genes in tomato

Abstract

RING membrane-anchor (RMA) E3 ubiquitin ligases are involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation, which mediates the regulated destruction of ER-resident enzymes in various organisms. We determined that the transcription factor JASMONATE-RESPONSIVE ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 4 (JRE4) co-regulates the expression of the RMA-type ligase gene SlRMA1, but not its homolog SlRMA2, with steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis genes in tomato, perhaps to prevent the overaccumulation of these metabolites.