scholarly journals The bZIP gene family in watermelon: genome-wide identification and expression analysis under cold stress and root-knot nematode infection

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youxin Yang ◽  
Jingwen Li ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
Yingui Yang ◽  
Yelan Guang ◽  
...  

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family transcription factors play crucial roles in regulating plant development and stress response. In this study, we identified 62 ClabZIP genes from watermelon genome, which were unevenly distributed across the 11 chromosomes. These ClabZIP proteins could be classified into 13 groups based on the phylogenetic relationships, and members in the same group showed similar compositions of conserved motifs and gene structures. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a number of ClabZIP genes have important roles in the melatonin (MT) induction of cold tolerance. In addition, some ClabZIP genes were induced or repressed under red light (RL) or root-knot nematode infection according to the transcriptome data, and the expression patterns of several ClabZIP genes were further verified by quantitative real-time PCR, revealing their possible roles in RL induction of watermelon defense against nematode infection. Our results provide new insights into the functions of different ClabZIP genes in watermelon and their roles in response to cold stress and nematode infection.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Sang ◽  
Hui Liu ◽  
Bin Ma ◽  
Xianzhong Huang ◽  
Lu Zhuo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In plants, 14-3-3 proteins, also called GENERAL REGULATORY FACTORs (GRFs), encoded by a large multigene family, are involved in protein–protein interactions and play crucial roles in various physiological processes. No genome-wide analysis of the GRF gene family has been performed in cotton, and their functions in flowering are largely unknown. Results In this study, 17, 17, 31, and 17 GRF genes were identified in Gossypium herbaceum, G. arboreum, G. hirsutum, and G. raimondii, respectively, by genome-wide analyses and were designated as GheGRFs, GaGRFs, GhGRFs, and GrGRFs, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that these proteins were divided into ε and non-ε groups. Gene structural, motif composition, synteny, and duplicated gene analyses of the identified GRF genes provided insights into the evolution of this family in cotton. GhGRF genes exhibited diverse expression patterns in different tissues. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that the GhGRFs interacted with the cotton FLOWERING LOCUS T homologue GhFT in the cytoplasm and nucleus, while they interacted with the basic leucine zipper transcription factor GhFD only in the nucleus. Virus-induced gene silencing in G. hirsutum and transgenic studies in Arabidopsis demonstrated that GhGRF3/6/9/15 repressed flowering and that GhGRF14 promoted flowering. Conclusions Here, 82 GRF genes were identified in cotton, and their gene and protein features, classification, evolution, and expression patterns were comprehensively and systematically investigated. The GhGRF3/6/9/15 interacted with GhFT and GhFD to form florigen activation complexs that inhibited flowering. However, GhGRF14 interacted with GhFT and GhFD to form florigen activation complex that promoted flowering. The results provide a foundation for further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of flowering.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengyuan Wei ◽  
Aili Liu ◽  
Yujuan Zhang ◽  
Yong Zhou ◽  
Donghua Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family is one of the plant-specific transcription factor families, involved in plant development, growth, and in the response to diverse stresses. However, comprehensive analysis of the HD-Zip genes, especially those involved in response to drought and salinity stresses is lacking in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), an important oil crop in tropical and subtropical areas. Results In this study, 45 HD-Zip genes were identified in sesame, and denominated as SiHDZ01-SiHDZ45. Members of SiHDZ family were classified into four groups (HD-Zip I-IV) based on the phylogenetic relationship of Arabidopsis HD-Zip proteins, which was further supported by the analysis of their conserved motifs and gene structures. Expression analyses of SiHDZ genes based on transcriptome data showed that the expression patterns of these genes were varied in different tissues. Additionally, we showed that at least 75% of the SiHDZ genes were differentially expressed in responses to drought and salinity treatments, and highlighted the important role of HD-Zip I and II genes in stress responses in sesame. Conclusions This study provides important information for functional characterization of stress-responsive HD-Zip genes and may contribute to the better understanding of the molecular basis of stress tolerance in sesame.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Sang ◽  
Hui Liu ◽  
Bin Ma ◽  
zhong Huang ◽  
Lu Zhuo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In plants, 14-3-3 proteins, also called GENERAL REGULATORY FACTORs (GRFs), encoded by a large multigene family, are involved in protein–protein interactions and play crucial roles in various physiological processes. No genome-wide analysis of the GRF gene family has been performed in cotton, and their functions in flowering are largely unknown.Results: In this study, 17, 17, 31, and 17 GRF genes were identified in Gossypium herbaceum, G. arboreum, G. hirsutum, and G. raimondii, respectively, by genome-wide analyses and were designated as GheGRFs, GaGRFs, GhGRFs, and GrGRFs, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that these proteins were divided into ε and non-ε groups. Gene structural, motif composition, synteny, and duplicated gene analyses of the identified GRF genes provided insights into the evolution of this family in cotton. GhGRF genes exhibited diverse expression patterns in different tissues. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays showed that the GhGRFs interacted with the cotton FLOWERING LOCUS T homologue GhFT in the cytoplasm and nucleus, while they interacted with the basic leucine zipper transcription factor GhFD only in the nucleus. Transgenic studies in Arabidopsis demonstrated that GhGRF3/6/9/15 repressed flowering and that GhGRF14 promoted flowering.Conclusions: Here, 82 GRF genes were identified in cotton, and their gene and protein features, classification, evolutionary, and expression patterns were comprehensively and systematically investigated. The GhGRFs interacted with GhFT and GhFD to form florigen activation complexes, which either promoted or inhibited flowering. The results provide a foundation for further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of flowering.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Yang ◽  
Wenqiu Pan ◽  
Ruoyu Zhang ◽  
Yan Pan ◽  
Qifan Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Lignin is one of the main components of the cell wall and is directly associated with plant development and defence mechanisms in plants, especially in response to Fusarium graminearum (Fg) infection. Caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) is the main regulator determining the efficiency of lignin synthesis and composition. Although it has been characterized in many plants, to date, the importance of the CCoAOMT family in wheat is not well understood. Results Here, a total of 21 wheat CCoAOMT genes (TaCCoAOMT) were identified through an in silico genome search method and they were classified into four groups based on phylogenetic analysis, with the members of the same group sharing similar gene structures and conserved motif compositions. Furthermore, the expression patterns and co-expression network in which TaCCoAOMT is involved were comprehensively investigated using 48 RNA-seq samples from Fg infected and mock samples of 4 wheat genotypes. Combined with qRT-PCR validation of 11 Fg-responsive TaCCoAOMT genes, potential candidates involved in the FHB response and their regulation modules were preliminarily suggested. Additionally, we investigated the genetic diversity and main haplotypes of these CCoAOMT genes in bread wheat and its relative populations based on resequencing data. Conclusions This study identified and characterized the CCoAOMT family in wheat, which not only provided potential targets for further functional analysis, but also contributed to uncovering the mechanism of lignin biosynthesis and its role in FHB tolerance in wheat and beyond.


Author(s):  
Wei Lai ◽  
Zhaoyang Hu ◽  
Chuxia Zhu ◽  
Yingui Yang ◽  
Shiqiang Liu ◽  
...  

Protein ubiquitination is one of the most common modifications that can degrade or modify proteins in eukaryotic cells. The E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBCs) are involved in multiple biological processes of eukaryotes and their response to adverse stresses. Genome-wide survey of the UBC gene family has been performed in many plant species but not in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). In this study, a total of 38 UBC family genes (designated as CsUBC1–CsUBC38) were identified in cucumber. The phylogenetic analysis of UBC proteins from cucumber, Arabidopsis and maize indicated that these proteins could be divided into 15 groups. Most of the phylogenetically related CsUBC members had similar conserved motif patterns and gene structures. The CsUBC genes were unevenly distributed on seven chromosomes, and gene duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication has played a significant role in the expansion of the cucumber UBC gene family. Promoter analysis of these genes resulted in the identification of many hormone-, stress- and development-related cis-elements. The CsUBC genes exhibited differential expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages of fruit ripening. In addition, a total of 14 CsUBC genes were differentially expressed upon downy mildew (DM) infection compared with the control. Our results lay the foundation for further clarification of the roles of the CsUBC genes in the future.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Wencai Yu ◽  
Yueyi Chen ◽  
Shuguang Yang ◽  
Shaohua Wu ◽  
...  

Heat-shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play a pivotal role in the response of plants to various stresses. The present study aimed to characterize the Hsf genes in the rubber tree, a primary global source of natural rubber. In this study, 30 Hsf genes were identified in the rubber tree using genome-wide analysis. They possessed a structurally conserved DNA-binding domain and an oligomerization domain. On the basis of the length of the insert region between HR-A and HR-B in the oligomerization domain, the 30 members were clustered into three classes, Classes A (18), B (10), and C (2). Members within the same class shared highly conserved gene structures and protein motifs. The background expression levels of 11 genes in cold-tolerant rubber-tree clone 93-14 were significantly higher than those in cold-sensitive rubber-tree clone Reken501, while four genes exhibited inverse expression patterns. Upon cold stress, 20 genes were significantly upregulated in 93-114. Of the upregulated genes, HbHsfA2b, HbHsfA3a, and HbHsfA7a were also significantly upregulated in three other cold-tolerant rubber-tree clones at one or more time intervals upon cold stress. Their nuclear localization was verified, and the protein–protein interaction network was predicted. This study provides a basis for dissecting Hsf function in the enhanced cold tolerance of the rubber tree.


Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Siyu Rong ◽  
Zhiyang Wu ◽  
Zizhang Cheng ◽  
Shan Zhang ◽  
Huan Liu ◽  
...  

Olive (Olea europaea.L) is an economically important oleaginous crop and its fruit cold-pressed oil is used for edible oil all over the world. The basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) family is one of the largest transcription factors families among eukaryotic organisms; its members play vital roles in environmental signaling, stress response, plant growth, seed maturation, and fruit development. However, a comprehensive report on the bZIP gene family in olive is lacking. In this study, 103 OebZIP genes from the olive genome were identified and divided into 12 subfamilies according to their genetic relationship with 78 bZIPs of A. thaliana. Most OebZIP genes are clustered in the subgroup that has a similar gene structure and conserved motif distribution. According to the characteristics of the leucine zipper region, the dimerization characteristics of 103 OebZIP proteins were predicted. Gene duplication analyses revealed that 22 OebZIP genes were involved in the expansion of the bZIP family. To evaluate the expression patterns of OebZIP genes, RNA-seq data available in public databases were analyzed. The highly expressed OebZIP genes and several lipid synthesis genes (LPGs) in fruits of two varieties with different oil contents during the fast oil accumulation stage were examined via qRT-PCR. By comparing the dynamic changes of oil accumulation, OebZIP1, OebZIP7, OebZIP22, and OebZIP99 were shown to have a close relationship with fruit development and lipid synthesis. Additionally, some OebZIP had a significant positive correlation with various LPG genes. This study gives insights into the structural features, evolutionary patterns, and expression analysis, laying a foundation to further reveal the function of the 103 OebZIP genes in olive.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11939
Author(s):  
Jiali Zhao ◽  
Hongyou Li ◽  
Juan Huang ◽  
Taoxiong Shi ◽  
Ziye Meng ◽  
...  

BBX (B-box), a zinc finger transcription factor with one or two B-box domains, plays an important role in plant photomorphogenesis, growth, and development as well as response to environmental changes. In this study, 28 Tartary buckwheat BBX (FtBBX) genes were identified and screened using a comparison program. Their physicochemical properties, gene structures, conserved motifs, distribution in chromosomal, and phylogeny of the coding proteins, as well as their expression patterns, were analyzed. In addition, multiple collinearity analysis in three monocots and three dicot species illustrated that the BBX proteins identified from monocots clustered separately from those of dicots. Moreover, the expression of 11 candidate BBX genes with probable involvement in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis was analyzed in the sprouts of Tartary buckwheat during light treatment. The results of gene structure analysis showed that all the 28 BBX genes contained B-box domain, three genes lacked introns, and these genes were unevenly distributed on the other seven chromosomes except for chromosome 6. The 28 proteins contained 10 conserved motifs and could be divided into five subfamilies. BBX genes of Tartary buckwheat showed varying expression under different conditions demonstrating that FtBBXs might play important roles in Tartary buckwheat growth and development. This study lays a foundation for further understanding of Tartary buckwheat BBX genes and their functions in growth and development as well as regulation of pigmentation in Tartary buckwheat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2188
Author(s):  
Miaomiao Qin ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Tianyi Zhang ◽  
Xiangyang Hu ◽  
Rui Liu ◽  
...  

Auxin is one of the most critical hormones in plants. YUCCA (Tryptophan aminotransferase of Arabidopsis (TAA)/YUCCA) enzymes catalyze the key rate-limiting step of the tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis pathway, from IPA (Indole-3-pyruvateacid) to IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid). Here, 13 YUCCA family genes were identified from Isatis indigotica, which were divided into four categories, distributing randomly on chromosomes (2n = 14). The typical and conservative motifs, including the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding motif and flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO)-identifying sequence, existed in the gene structures. IiYUCCA genes were expressed differently in different organs (roots, stems, leaves, buds, flowers, and siliques) and developmental periods (7, 21, 60, and 150 days after germination). Taking IiYUCCA6-1 as an example, the YUCCA genes functions were discussed. The results showed that IiYUCCA6-1 was sensitive to PEG (polyethylene glycol), cold, wounding, and NaCl treatments. The over-expressed tobacco plants exhibited high auxin performances, and some early auxin response genes (NbIAA8, NbIAA16, NbGH3.1, and NbGH3.6) were upregulated with increased IAA content. In the dark, the contents of total chlorophyll and hydrogen peroxide in the transgenic lines were significantly lower than in the control group, with NbSAG12 downregulated and some delayed leaf senescence characteristics, which delayed the senescence process to a certain extent. The findings provide comprehensive insight into the phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distributions, and expression patterns and functions of the YUCCA gene family in I. indigotica.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document