Genome-Wide Identification,Classification, and Expression Analysis of 14-3-3 Gene Family in Populus

Background

In plants, 14-3-3 proteins are encoded by a large multigene family and are involved in signaling pathways to regulate plant development and protection from stress. Although twelve Populus 14-3-3s were identified based on the Populus trichocarpa genome V1.1 in a previous study, no systematic analysis including genome organization, gene structure, duplication relationship, evolutionary analysis and expression compendium has been conducted in Populus based on the latest P. trichocarpa genome V3.0.

Principal Findings

Here, a comprehensive analysis of Populus 14-3-3 family is presented. Two new 14-3-3 genes were identified based on the latest P. trichocarpa genome. In P. trichocarpa, fourteen 14-3-3 genes were grouped into ε and non-ε group. Exon-intron organizations of Populus 14-3-3s are highly conserved within the same group. Genomic organization analysis indicated that purifying selection plays a pivotal role in the retention and maintenance of Populus 14-3-3 family. Protein conformational analysis indicated that Populus 14-3-3 consists of a bundle of nine α-helices (α1-α9); the first four are essential for formation of the dimer, while α3, α5, α7, and α9 form a conserved peptide-binding groove. In addition, α1, α3, α5, α7, and α9 were evolving at a lower rate, while α2, α4, and α6 were evolving at a relatively faster rate. Microarray analyses showed that most Populus 14-3-3s are differentially expressed across tissues and upon exposure to various stresses.

Conclusions

The gene structures and their coding protein structures of Populus 14-3-3s are highly conserved among group members, suggesting that members of the same group might also have conserved functions. Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses showed that most Populus 14-3-3s were differentially expressed in various tissues and were induced by various stresses. Our investigation provided a better understanding of the complexity of the 14-3-3 gene family in poplars.     

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling Analysis of the Aux/IAA Gene Family in Medicago truncatula during the Early Phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti Infection

Background

Auxin/indoleacetic acid (Aux/IAA) genes, coding a family of short-lived nuclear proteins, play key roles in wide variety of plant developmental processes, including root system regulation and responses to environmental stimulus. However, how they function in auxin signaling pathway and symbiosis with rhizobial in Medicago truncatula are largely unknown. The present study aims at gaining deeper insight on distinctive expression and function features of Aux/IAA family genes in Medicago truncatula during nodule formation.

Principal Findings

Using the latest updated draft of the full Medicago truncatula genome, a comprehensive identification and analysis of IAA genes were performed. The data indicated that MtIAA family genes are distributed in all the M. truncatula chromosomes except chromosome 6. Most of MtIAA genes are responsive to exogenous auxin and express in tissues-specific manner. To understand the biological functions of MtIAA genes involved in nodule formation, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test the expression profiling of MtIAA genes during the early phase of Sinorhizobium meliloti (S. meliloti) infection. The expression patterns of most MtIAA genes were down-regulated in roots and up-regulated in shoots by S. meliloti infection. The differences in expression responses between roots and shoots caused by S. meliloti infection were alleviated by 1-NOA application.

Conclusion

The genome-wide identification, evolution and expression pattern analysis of MtIAA genes were performed in this study. The data helps us to understand the roles of MtIAA-mediated auxin signaling in nodule formation during the early phase of S. meliloti infection.     

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the TIFY Gene Family in Grape

Background

The TIFY gene family constitutes a plant-specific group of genes with a broad range of functions. This family encodes four subfamilies of proteins, including ZML, TIFY, PPD and JASMONATE ZIM-Domain (JAZ) proteins. JAZ proteins are targets of the SCF^COI1 complex, and function as negative regulators in the JA signaling pathway. Recently, it has been reported in both Arabidopsis and rice that TIFY genes, and especially JAZ genes, may be involved in plant defense against insect feeding, wounding, pathogens and abiotic stresses. Nonetheless, knowledge concerning the specific expression patterns and evolutionary history of plant TIFY family members is limited, especially in a woody species such as grape.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of two TIFY, four ZML, two PPD and 11 JAZ genes were identified in the Vitis vinifera genome. Phylogenetic analysis of TIFY protein sequences from grape, Arabidopsis and rice indicated that the grape TIFY proteins are more closely related to those of Arabidopsis than those of rice. Both segmental and tandem duplication events have been major contributors to the expansion of the grape TIFY family. In addition, synteny analysis between grape and Arabidopsis demonstrated that homologues of several grape TIFY genes were found in the corresponding syntenic blocks of Arabidopsis, suggesting that these genes arose before the divergence of lineages that led to grape and Arabidopsis. Analyses of microarray and quantitative real-time RT-PCR expression data revealed that grape TIFY genes are not a major player in the defense against biotrophic pathogens or viruses. However, many of these genes were responsive to JA and ABA, but not SA or ET.

Conclusion

The genome-wide identification, evolutionary and expression analyses of grape TIFY genes should facilitate further research of this gene family and provide new insights regarding their evolutionary history and regulatory control.     

茶树脯氨酸转运蛋白基因鉴定及表达分析

脯氨酸转运蛋白在植物体内脯氨酸的分配及响应多种非生物逆境胁迫过程中发挥着重要作用。为明确茶树体内脯氨酸转运蛋白家族情况,该研究从全基因组水平鉴定获得茶树脯氨酸转运蛋白家族成员,进行了系统进化关系、蛋白结构、基因表达特异性等分析。结果表明:(1)茶树中有6个脯氨酸转运蛋白基因,长度为1 326～1 725 bp之间,编码氨基酸数目在441～574 aa之间,蛋白质分子质量在48.5～63.0 kD之间,等电点为8.51～9.41,大部分为碱性蛋白,其结构中含有大量的α-螺旋和自由卷曲,少量的延长链和β-转角结构。(2)亚细胞定位分析结果显示,茶树CsProT1、CsProT2、CsProT4、CsProT5和CsProT6蛋白定位于细胞膜,CsProT3蛋白则定位于高尔基体。(3)CsProTs蛋白中含9～11个典型的跨膜结构域,其三级结构与保守基序特征均与拟南芥高度相似,具有高度的保守性,不同成员间氨基酸序列相似性达40.14%。(4)基因表达特异性分析显示,CsProT1,CsProT2和CsProT3基因在各个组织部位的表达量均较高,CsProT4、CsProT5和CsProT6表达量均较低,且CsProT1基因的表达量最高;除CsProT5基因外,CsProTs蛋白家族的基因均受到NaCl、干旱及冷胁迫的诱导表达。(5)蛋白相互作用分析结果显示,CsProTs蛋白可与脯氨酸氧化酶ERD5,脯氨酸生物合成限速酶P5CS1、P5CS2和δ-吡咯啉-5-羧酸脱氢酶ALDH12A1等脯氨酸合成,转运及降解有关的蛋白相互作用,共同调控茶树体内脯氨酸的含量。研究认为,茶树6个CsProTs蛋白可共同参与茶树体内脯氨酸的转运平衡及对多种非生物逆境胁迫响应的过程。     

Genome-Wide Identification of the F-box Gene Family and Expression Analysis under Drought and Salt Stress in Barley

The F-box protein-encoding gene family plays an essential role in plant stress resistance. In present study, 126 non-redundant F-box genes were identified in barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Hv). The corresponding proteins contained 165– 887 amino acid residues and all were amphiphilic, except 5 proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of F-box protein sequences in barley and stress-related F-box protein sequences in wheat and Arabidopsis thaliana (At) was used to classify barley F-box genes are divided into 9 subfamilies (A–I). A structure-based sequence alignment demonstrated that F-box proteins were highly conserved with a total of 10 conserved motifs. In total, 124 F-box genes were unevenly distributed on 7 chromosomes; another 2 genes have not been anchored yet. The gene structure analysis revealed high variability in the number of exons and introns in F-box genes. Comprehensive analysis of expression profiles and phylogenetic tree analysis, a total of 12 F-box genes that may be related to stress tolerance in barley were screened. Of the 12 detected F-box genes, 8 and 10 were upregulated after drought and salt stress treatments, respectively, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This study is the first systematic analysis conducted on the F-box gene family in barley, which is of great importance for clarifying this family’s bioinformatic characteristics and elucidating its function in barley stress resistance. These results will serve as a theoretical reference for subsequent research on molecular regulation mechanisms, genetic breeding, and improvement.     

Genome-Wide Identification, Classification, and Expression Analysis of Autophagy-Associated Gene Homologues in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process for recycling macromolecules and organelles. It plays important roles in plant development and in response to nutritional demand, stress, and senescence. Organisms from yeast to plants contain many autophagy-associated genes (ATG). In this study, we found that a total of 33 ATG homologues exist in the rice [Oryza sativa L. (Os)] genome, which were classified into 13 ATG subfamilies. Six of them are alternatively spliced genes. Evolutional analysis showed that expansion of 10 OsATG homologues occurred via segmental duplication events and that the occurrence of these OsATG homologues within each subfamily was asynchronous. The Ka/Ks ratios suggested purifying selection for four duplicated OsATG homologues and positive selection for two. Calculating the dates of the duplication events indicated that all duplication events might have occurred after the origin of the grasses, from 21.43 to 66.77 million years ago. Semi-quantitative RT–PCR analysis and mining the digital expression database of rice showed that all 33 OsATG homologues could be detected in at least one cell type of the various tissues under normal or stress growth conditions, but their expression was tightly regulated. The 10 duplicated genes showed expression divergence. The expression of most OsATG homologues was regulated by at least one treatment, including hormones, abiotic and biotic stresses, and nutrient limitation. The identification of OsATG homologues showing constitutive expression or responses to environmental stimuli provides new insights for in-depth characterization of selected genes of importance in rice.     

Genome-Wide Identification of the Invertase Gene Family in Populus

Invertase plays a crucial role in carbohydrate partitioning and plant development as it catalyses the irreversible hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose. The invertase family in plants is composed of two sub-families: acid invertases, which are targeted to the cell wall and vacuole; and neutral/alkaline invertases, which function in the cytosol. In this study, 5 cell wall invertase genes (PtCWINV1-5), 3 vacuolar invertase genes (PtVINV1-3) and 16 neutral/alkaline invertase genes (PtNINV1-16) were identified in the Populus genome and found to be distributed on 14 chromosomes. A comprehensive analysis of poplar invertase genes was performed, including structures, chromosome location, phylogeny, evolutionary pattern and expression profiles. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two sub-families were both divided into two clades. Segmental duplication is contributed to neutral/alkaline sub-family expansion. Furthermore, the Populus invertase genes displayed differential expression in roots, stems, leaves, leaf buds and in response to salt/cold stress and pathogen infection. In addition, the analysis of enzyme activity and sugar content revealed that invertase genes play key roles in the sucrose metabolism of various tissues and organs in poplar. This work lays the foundation for future functional analysis of the invertase genes in Populus and other woody perennials.     

番茄NAC转录因子家族的鉴定及生物信息学分析

NAC转录因子家族是植物特有的一类转录因子,在植物的生长发育、器官建成及逆境胁迫和激素信号应答中均发挥重要作用。本研究在基因组范围内,利用生物信息学方法对番茄的NAC转录因子家族成员、分布及结构和功能等进行分析。预测结果显示番茄NAC家族包含102个蛋白质,分为12亚族,其中茄属特有的TNAC亚族中成员最多,具有25个,其他NAC转录因子与拟南芥NAc家族具有相似分类。保守基序分析,在番茄NAC结构域中包含7个保守的NAM基序,主要分布在序列的N端,表明这些基序的存在对NAC蛋白质功能的执行是必需的。理化性质和结构分析表明,番茄NAC蛋白质绝大多数是亲水蛋白质,主要以无规则卷曲构成,而α-螺旋、β-折叠和β-转角则散布于整个蛋白质中,在各亚族中没有规律。     

森林草莓全基因组MADS-box转录因子基因的鉴定及凤梨草莓果实FaMADS1基因克隆

本文利用生物信息学方法对森林草莓（Fragaria vesca）基因组数据库中MADS-box基因的数量、结构类型、序列特征及染色体定位进行分析。结果表明,获得70个含SRF-TF结构域的森林草莓Fv MADS基因,DNA长度289~14 596 bp,编码66~1 437个氨基酸残基,有21个Fv MADS没有内含子,在7条染色体上呈不均匀分布;68个Fv MADS蛋白序列含有保守基序Motif 1,最佳匹配序列为＂RQVTFSKRRNGLLKKAYELSVLCDAEVALIIFSSRGKLYEF＂。另外,从栽培品种‘丰香’草莓果实中克隆了Fa MADS1基因,该基因属于MADS-box基因家族,c DNA全长1 167 bp,编码区750 bp,推导编码249个氨基酸,具有MADS结构域和K-box结构域。