Genome-Wide Characterization of the ZIP Transporter Family in Sea Island Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) and Expression Profiling Under Heavy Metal and Pathogen Stresses
Aug 2026· Biology· Vol 15· 0 citations· 34 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Transcriptional analysis demonstrated that several key GbZIP members dynamically respond to cadmium exposure, fungal infection, and their combined occurrence, highlighting crucial candidate genes for molecular breeding aimed at improving stress resilience and metal tolerance in premium cotton germplasm.
Abstract
Simple Summary Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) is widely cultivated for its high-grade extra-long staple fiber and excellent disease resistance. However, its cultivation is increasingly threatened by soil heavy metal contamination (such as cadmium toxicity) and fungal diseases (such as Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae). Zinc/iron-regulated transporter-like proteins (ZIPs) serve as essential membrane transporters that manage transition metal homeostasis and modulate stress responses in plants. In this study, we systematically identified 46 GbZIP genes across the G. barbadense genome and comprehensively evaluated their structural characteristics, evolutionary origin, cis-regulatory elements, and expression patterns. Transcriptional analysis demonstrated that several key GbZIP members dynamically respond to cadmium exposure, fungal infection, and their combined occurrence. These findings highlight crucial candidate genes for molecular breeding aimed at improving stress resilience and metal tolerance in premium cotton germplasm.
This study comprehensively elucidates the evolutionary dynamics and spatiotemporal expression profiles of the sugarcane PIP gene family and uncovers the novel pleiotropic function of ScPIP2-70 in mediating low-K+ stress tolerance, providing critical theoretical support and candidate gene resources for breeding “potassium-efficient” sugarcane cultivars via modern biotechnology.
Yi-Rong Guo, Qiu-Ping Ling, Xing-Chen Liu et al.· Agronomy· 0 citations
Background Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are crucial metalloenzymes that constitute the first line of defense against reactive oxygen species in plants under abiotic stress. Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) is an economically important medicinal plant with notable stress tolerance, however, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of its SOD gene family has not yet been performed. Results We identified ten wolfberry SOD genes (LbaSODs) and classified them into three subfamilies: iron-SODs (Fe-SODs), manganese-SODs (Mn-SODs), and copper/zinc-SODs (Cu/Zn-SODs). Members within each subfamily shared conserved gene structures and motifs. Segmental duplication was the primary driver of LbaSOD expansion, with three paralogous pairs identified. Analysis of cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region revealed a predominance of stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements, particularly ABA-responsive elements (ABREs) (22 copies) and LTR (17 copies) motifs. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed that LbaSOD2 and LbaSOD5 expression peaked during early fruit development, whereas LbaSOD6, LbaSOD9, and LbaSOD10 were progressively upregulated through fruit maturation. Under abiotic conditions, Fe-SOD members were markedly suppressed during prolonged drought, whereas LbaSOD9 and LbaSOD10 were rapidly induced in response to salt stress. Among the phytohormone treatments, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicited the most pronounced response, with LbaSOD5 expression increasing by approximately 60-fold after 24 hours. Notably, abscisic acid (ABA) triggered an exceptionally strong transcriptional induction of LbaSOD5 (2.5 × 105-fold), LbaSOD10 (6 × 105-fold), and LbaSOD6 (70-fold). In addition, LbaSOD3 and LbaSOD7 transcripts were undetectable in any of the tested conditions. Conclusions This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the LbaSOD gene family and elucidates its hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory landscape, providing a valuable foundation for future functional investigations of LbaSOD genes in abiotic stress adaptation. The extraordinarily strong ABA-mediated induction of specific LbaSOD members, together with their tissue- and stress-specific expression patterns, highlights their potential as targets for genetic improvement of stress tolerance in wolfberry.
Xiao-Yu Cao, Xiao-Rong Bai, Ying-Wu-Di Li et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Structural and functional insights are provided into the RsChi family and candidate targets for breeding clubroot-resistant radish cultivars are highlighted, highlighting candidate targets for breeding clubroot-resistant radish cultivars.
Zhi-Jie Liu, Tian-Hua Hu, Min-Yan Mai et al.· International Journal of Mol...· 0 citations
Sugar transporter proteins (STPs) play pivotal roles in hexose allocation and plant stress responses. However, systematic characterization of the STP family in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and its involvement in Ralstonia solanacearum resistance remains unclear. In this study, 37 NtSTP genes were identified and classified into six groups, with Group VI being the most conserved and Group V exhibiting dicot-specific expansion. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed that most NtSTP members possess the typical MFS_STP domain, although variations in exon–intron organization and motif composition suggested functional divergence. Tandem duplication (TD) served as the primary driver of NtSTP family expansion, and Ka/Ks values of all paralogous pairs were less than 1, indicative of purifying selection. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed a complex regulatory network involving hormone signaling (ABA, JA, SA, GA, ET), stress responses, and light signaling. RT-qPCR expression profiling revealed that ten NtSTP genes (NtSTP1, 5, 7, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, and 29) exhibited significant transcriptional upregulation upon R. solanacearum infection. Specifically, NtSTP5, NtSTP7, NtSTP21, NtSTP22, NtSTP24, NtSTP26, and NtSTP27 peaked at 12 h post-inoculation (hpi), whereas NtSTP1, NtSTP28, and NtSTP29 reached their highest expression levels at 24 hpi. By contrast, NtSTP6, NtSTP13, and NtSTP30 displayed reduced expression upon R. solanacearum infection. These expression patterns indicate functional diversification within the NtSTP family and imply that these members may be transcriptionally modulated during plant responses to R. solanacearum. The present work provides preliminary and valuable candidate gene resources that may facilitate future disease resistance breeding programs in tobacco.
Hua Xuan, Da-Yin Liu, Ren-Ying Xu et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Nodule inception (NIN)-like proteins (NLPs) are plant-specific transcription factors regulating nutrient absorption, growth, and stress tolerance; however, their roles in stress responses remain largely uncharacterized. Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Camarosa’) serves as an ideal model for dissecting the evolution and function of NLP genes. In this study, 37 FaNLP genes were identified genome-wide. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into three subfamilies, which are evenly distributed across seven chromosomes. Divergent exon–intron structures and conserved motif compositions suggest functional differentiation among FaNLPs. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed distinct expression profiles under heat stress and Botrytis cinerea infection. Notably, FaNLPs were significantly more upregulated in the cultivar ‘Shuxing’ than in ‘Benihoppe’. Heat stress inhibited photosynthesis and altered catalase activity (CAT), superoxide dismutase activities (SOD) and peroxidase activities (POD), whereas fungal infection enhanced chitinase activity in both cultivars. Comparative genomics with Arabidopsis and rice revealed strawberry-specific evolutionary patterns of NLPs. Subcellular localization prediction indicates that FaNLP proteins primarily localize to the nucleus, implying their potential roles as transcriptional regulators. This study links FaNLP sequence characteristics with stress response phenotypes, providing a foundation for elucidating NLP-mediated regulatory networks in strawberry. Future functional assays, including overexpression and knockout analyses, will further clarify the biological roles of FaNLPs.
Li-Juan Chen, R. He, Dong Wang et al.· International Journal of Mol...· 0 citations
Soil salinization severely restricts the growth, yield, and industrial development of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). WRKY transcription factors play crucial roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses. However, the genome-wide characteristics of the WRKY family in apricot and their functional mechanisms in salt tolerance remain unclear. In this study, we identified 58 PaWRKY genes in apricot and characterized their phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, and gene structure. Based on transcriptomic and phylogenetic analyses, PaWRKY57 (homologous to AtWRKY33) was selected as a key salt-responsive candidate gene. Heterologous overexpression of PaWRKY57 in tobacco significantly enhanced salt tolerance; compared with the wild type, the transgenic lines exhibited a higher germination rate, better growth phenotype, lower accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), higher proline content, and stronger activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and APX). Protein-protein interaction prediction showed PaWRKY57 interacts with MPK3/4/6 and other stress-related proteins, and GO enrichment implicated it in osmotic stress and protein phosphorylation. This study provides preliminary genetic resources and a theoretical basis for research on the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance and stress-resistant molecular breeding in apricot.
