Genome-wide transcriptional analysis unveils the molecular basis of organ-specific expression of isosteroidal alkaloids biosynthesis in critically endangered Fritillaria roylei Hook

AbstractBasic leucine zipper proteins (bZIP) contain a basic DNA-binding region and a leucine zipper region, acting as transcriptional factors in regulation of gene expression exclusively in eukaryotes. In this investigation, total 116 bZIP members were identified in apple genome and mapped on all 17 chromosomes with various densities as M.bZIPs. All these members were divided into six groups according to the phylogenetic relationship combining with bZIPs from rice and Arabidopsis. Investigating gene structure of M.bZIPs, five splicing patterns of intron were found in the DNA-binging region with no splicing position and splicing positions at different nucleotide of codons or different positions. Analyzing of protein structure of M.bZIPs, twenty-five motifs were identified with certain characteristic in different phylogenetic groups. To predict dimerization of leucine zipper region, the key positions of amino acid in heptad(s) were investigated. The results showed that most M.bZIPs may form hetero-dimer or homo-dimer and some M.bZIPs may form both. Expression experiment revealed that M.bZIP genes have organ-specific expression and widely expressed in flowers, leaves, and fruits. To investigate the response of M.bZIPs to abiotic stresses, the promoter sequences of randomly selected M.bZIP genes were analyzed. Cis-acting elements related to multiple stresses were found existing widely in promoter sequences. Quantitative real-time PCR results further demonstrated that the expression of some M.bZIP genes were quite sensitive to exogenous abscisic acid and osmotic treatments.

Download Full-text

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of the BZR Transcription Factor Gene Family in Nicotiana benthamiana

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms221910379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (19) ◽

pp. 10379

Author(s):

Xuwei Chen ◽

Xinyang Wu ◽

Shiyou Qiu ◽

Hongying Zheng ◽

Yuwen Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Resistance ◽

Nicotiana Benthamiana ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Basic Research ◽

Drought Treatment ◽

Specific Expression ◽

Cis Acting ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Organ Specific ◽

Organ Specific Expression

Brassinazole-resistant (BZR) family genes encode plant-specific transcription factors (TFs), play essential roles in the regulation of plant growth and development, and have multiple stress-resistance functions. Nicotiana benthamiana is a model plant widely used in basic research. However, members of the BZR family in N. benthamiana have not been identified, and little is known about their function in abiotic stress. In this study, a total of 14 BZR members were identified in the N. benthamiana genome, which could be divided into four groups according to a phylogenetic tree. NbBZRs have similar exon-intron structures and conserved motifs, and may be regulated by cis-acting elements such as STRE, TCA, and ARE, etc. Organ-specific expression analysis showed that NbBZR members have different and diverse expression patterns in different tissues, and most of the members are expressed in roots, stems, and leaves. The analysis of the expression patterns in response to different abiotic stresses showed that all the tested NbBZR members showed a significant down-regulation after drought treatment. Many NbBZR genes also responded in various ways to cold, heat and salt stress treatments. The results imply that NbBZRs have multiple functions related to stress resistance.

Download Full-text