Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of DOF transcription factor in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and its effect against developmental and stress condition

The transcription factor known as DNA-binding with one finger (DOF) is a plant-based regulator involved in stress responses, growth, and development. Specifically, DOFs play key roles in essential biological processes, including signal transduction, cellular morphogenesis, and reactions to environmental stress. We aim to identify and characterize the DOF transcription factors in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and examine their expression under various developmental and stress conditions. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the DOF family in tomato, which involved phylogenetic analysis, conserved motif identification, predictions of sub-cellular localization, gene structure analysis, gene expression profiling, and protein-protein interaction studies. We identified, classified, and analyzed the expression of 8 DOF genes in tomato. The sequences of these genes showed similarity to those in S. lycopersicum, including DOF5.1, DOF3.1, DOF2.4-like, DOF2.5-like, DOF3.4-like, DOF1.4, DOF3.4-like, and DOF3.1. The zf-DOF (pfam ID: pfam02701) and the zf-DOF superfamily (pfam Cl: 03664) were identified as two common superfamily domains across all eight genes. Through phylogenetic analysis, we identified two genes associated with stress response and six genes related to developmental processes. Notably, DOF1.4 was found to be expressed in both stress and developmental contexts. The distinct expression profiles of DOF genes in response to abiotic stimuli suggest their significant involvement in the plant's defense mechanisms. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant growth, development, and stress responses, providing valuable insights that could improve crop productivity and resilience in agricultural practices.