Elucidating the zinc-binding proteome of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici with particular emphasis on zinc-binding effector proteins

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici is a soil-borne phytopathogenic species which causes vascular wilt disease in the Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Due to the continuous competition for zinc usage by Fusarium and its host during infection makes zinc-binding proteins a hotspot for focused investigation. Zinc-binding effector proteins are pivotal during the infection process, working in conjunction with other essential proteins crucial for its biological activities. This work aims at identifying and analysing zinc-binding proteins and zinc-binding proteins effector candidates of Fusarium. We have identified three hundred forty-six putative zinc-binding proteins; among these proteins, we got two hundred and thirty zinc-binding proteins effector candidates. The functional annotation, subcellular localization, and Gene Ontology analysis of these putative zinc-binding proteins revealed their probable role in wide range of cellular and biological processes such as metabolism, gene expression, gene expression regulation, protein biosynthesis, protein folding, cell signalling, DNA repair, and RNA processing. Sixteen proteins were found to be putatively secretory in nature. Eleven of these were putative zinc-binding protein effector candidates may be involved in pathogen-host interaction during infection. The information obtained here may enhance our understanding to design, screen, and apply the zinc-metal ion-based antifungal agents to protect the S. lycopersicum and control the vascular wilt caused by F. oxysporum.