Evolution and stress-responsive regulation of the apyrase gene family in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis): a genome-wide perspective on temperature and drought tolerance
Apyrases (APYs), nucleoside triphosphate-diphosphohydrolases, serve as critical enzymes in regulating extracellular ATP levels and maintaining biochemical homeostasis under stress conditions. Under the escalating pressures of global climate change, the adverse effects of rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns on crop productivity have become increasingly severe. Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis, B.rapa), a globally significant cruciferous crop, faces substantial threats due to its high sensitivity to environmental stressors. Throughout its growth cycle, it is frequently subjected to various environmental stresses and exhibits high sensitivity to drought stress and temperature fluctuations. In this study, we systematically identified 13 APY genes in the B.rapa genome and conducted a comprehensive analysis of their phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, and cis-regulatory elements. qRT-PCR analysis further revealed distinct tissue-specific expression patterns of BrAPYs and their differential regulation under drought, extreme temperature, and cold stress conditions. These findings establish a molecular framework for understanding the stress-responsive functions of APYs in Chinese cabbage and highlight potential targets for enhancing stress tolerance through genetic improvement.
Background: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play pivotal roles in plant growth, abiotic stress responses, detoxification of xenobiotics, and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Methods: In this study, transcriptomic analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pea cultivar DX27 under freezing stress (−4 °C) at 3, 6, and 12 h. Results:GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of global transcriptomic data further reveal that DEGs are significantly enriched in the following functional categories: oxidation–reduction processes, stress responses, glutathione metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. A total of 52 PsatGST genes were identified and classified into nine subfamilies based on phylogenetic relationships. Chromosomal localization revealed a non-random distribution across seven chromosomes. Promoter cis-element analysis indicated that PsatGST genes harbor diverse regulatory elements associated with light responsiveness, hormone signaling (auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, salicylic acid, and MeJA), and abiotic/biotic stress responses. PsatGSTF2 expression analysis showed pronounced up-regulation under freezing stress (−4 °C) at 3, 6, and 12 h. Conclusions: These findings provide a foundational framework for understanding the evolutionary history and functional diversification of the PsatGST gene family and offer valuable candidate genes for the breeding of stress-tolerant pea varieties.
Z. Niu, Li-Juan Zhang, Bo-Lin Sun et al.· Genes· 0 citations
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.
Ya-Hui Deng, Nan Zhao, Jidi Sun et al.· Biology· 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
Low temperature limits the growth and ornamental value of evergreen shrubs. Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense, an important ornamental shrub from Northeast China, frequently suffers freezing damage during winter. While exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) enhances cold tolerance in many plants, its molecular mechanisms at subzero temperatures remain poorly understood in non-model species lacking chromosome-level reference genomes. This study investigated the effects of exogenous ABA on freezing tolerance in R. yedoense var. poukhanense at -4 °C using an integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and proteomic approach. Cutting seedlings were subjected to four treatments: CK (22°C control), A (22°C + ABA), LT (-4°C), and ALT (-4°C + ABA). Photosynthetic pigments, osmotic regulation substances, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. Transcriptome sequencing and quantitative proteomics were performed, and transcriptome data were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of 15 selected genes. ABA pretreatment reduced visible cold injury severity, partially preserved photosynthetic pigments, decreased MDA content by 28.7%, and promoted recovery of catalase (+43.6%), superoxide dismutase (+31.1%), and peroxidase (+20.0%) activities under freezing stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed 8, 444 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LT versus CK and 6, 481 DEGs in ALT versus CK, representing a 23% reduction in transcriptional reprogramming scope attributable to ABA priming. The ALT versus LT comparison identified only 1, 690 additional DEGs, indicating that most cold-responsive genes were pre-activated during the ABA priming phase. Proteome analysis identified 1, 461 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in ALT versus CK. Integrated analysis revealed extensive post-transcriptional regulation, with transcript-protein concordance of only 1.0-4.1%, and co-enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in both omics layers. qRT-PCR validation confirmed high reliability of the transcriptome data (R2 = 0.8500). These findings demonstrate that exogenous ABA enhances freezing tolerance through multi-layered molecular regulation encompassing transcriptional buffering, translational reprogramming, and functional reallocation from photosynthesis to stress protection. This study provides the first integrated physiology-transcriptome-proteome framework for ABA-mediated freezing tolerance in an evergreen ornamental shrub and offers theoretical support for ABA-based winter protection strategies.
Riwen Fei, Jia-Yi Liu, Si-Yu Duan et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
It is demonstrated that heterologous expression of TksPLATZ1, TksPLATZ2 and TksPLATZ7 localize to the cell nucleus and act as transcriptional activators and repressors, respectively, which enhances the tolerance of Arabidopsis to salt and osmotic stress.
Jinxian Chen, Wenhao Wu, Ming-Hua Luo et al.· Phytochemistry· 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.
