TL;DR
This study provides the first comprehensive systems-level characterization of HKGs and TSGs in Euryale ferox Salisb.
Abiotic stress severely limits plant growth and productivity. Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS), known for its environmental resilience, represents a valuable resource for identifying stress-tolerant genes to improve stress-adaptive crops. Plant AT-rich protein and zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) transcription factors serve as core regulators of plant growth, developmental processes, and adaptive responses to various stress conditions; however, they remain uncharacterized in TKS. Here, we identified 10 TksPLATZ genes through a whole-genome analysis. Phylogenetically, these genes were grouped into five distinct evolutionary branches. Promoter sequence analysis revealed multiple types of cis-acting regulatory elements that are connected with hormonal signal responses and environmental stress adaptation. Integrated analysis of transcriptome datasets and RT-qPCR validation demonstrated that TksPLATZ genes display tissue-specific expression profiles and show distinct responsive patterns to drought and salt stress treatments. Among them, TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 were markedly induced under both stressors and were selected for further functional study. We demonstrated that TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 localize to the cell nucleus and act as transcriptional activators and repressors, respectively. Phenotypic data from overexpression experiments in plants confirm that heterologous expression of TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2, and TksPLATZ7 enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis to salt and osmotic stress. These findings provide valuable genetic resources for improving plant tolerance to environmental stresses.
Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) are enzymes involved in glycerolipid biosynthesis and play a key role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide and in silico analysis of the GPAT gene family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has not been performed to date. In this study, the GPAT gene family in the sunflower genome was characterized using bioinformatics approaches. A total of 23 HaGPAT genes were identified; their chromosomal distributions, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, protein properties, subcellular localizations, cis-regulatory elements, miRNA targets, protein-protein interaction networks, three-dimensional protein structures, synteny relationships, duplication events, Ka/Ks ratios, and expression profiles based on RNA-seq data were analyzed. Expression analyses based on RNA-seq data showed that HaGPAT genes exhibited variable expression profiles under different tissues. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles of the HaGPAT gene family, and constitute a valuable genomic resource for future functional studies.
BACKGROUND Soybean is a crucial global source of protein and oil. The CBP/p300 histone acetyltransferases (HACs) are key transcriptional regulators, yet their diversity and functions in soybean remain unexplored at a pan-genomic level. RESULTS Here, we constructed a pan-genomic resource for the HAC gene family across 29 wild, landrace, and cultivated soybean accessions, identifying 142 HAC genes. These genes are confined to chromosomes 7, 8, 15, and 19, indicating strong evolutionary constraints. Phylogenetic analysis divided HACs into five subgroups with distinct domain architectures: Group 4-5 retain full CBP/p300 domains, whereas Group 1-3 show progressive domain loss. Pan-transcriptomic analyses revealed an expression dichotomy: Group 3-5 are broadly expressed, while Group 1-2 exhibit endosperm-specific expression during early seed development, suggesting specialized roles in nutrient transfer and embryogenesis. Notably, elite cultivars (e.g., Wm82, ZH13) have lost Group 2 homologs preserved in wild soybeans, highlighting domestication-driven erosion of epigenetic diversity. Co-expression network analysis prioritized Wm82-HAC1 (Group 1) as a candidate gene coordinating nutrient metabolism and seed maturation pathways. CONCLUSION Our study provides the first comprehensive panorama of epigenetic regulators in the soybean pan-genome. Our findings reveal how subfunctionalization and domestication help shape the HAC regulatory network in soybean, highlighting wild germplasm as a valuable reservoir for recovering lost alleles (Group2 homologs) and identifying Wm82-HAC1 (Group 1) as a prime target for precision breeding of seed traits.