Genome-Wide Analysis of nsLTP Gene Family and Identification of SiLTPs Contributing to High Oil Accumulation in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

The biosynthesis and storage of lipids in oil crop seeds involve many gene families, such as nonspecific lipid-transfer proteins (nsLTPs). nsLTPs are cysteine-rich small basic proteins essential for plant development and survival. However, in sesame, information related to nsLTPs was limited. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify the Sesamum indicum nsLTPs (SiLTPs) and reveal their potential role in oil accumulation in sesame seeds. Genome-wide analysis revealed 52 SiLTPs, nonrandomly distributed on 10 chromosomes in the sesame variety Zhongzhi 13. Following recent classification methods, the SiLTPs were divided into nine types, among which types I and XI were the dominants. We found that the SiLTPs could interact with several transcription factors, including APETALA2 (AP2), DNA binding with one finger (Dof), etc. Transcriptome analysis showed a tissue-specific expression of some SiLTP genes. By integrating the SiLTPs expression profiles and the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) results of two contrasting oil content sesame varieties, we identified SiLTPI.23 and SiLTPI.28 as the candidate genes for high oil content in sesame seeds. The presumed functions of the candidate gene were validated through overexpression of SiLTPI.23 in Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings expand our knowledge on nsLTPs in sesame and provide resources for functional studies and genetic improvement of oil content in sesame seeds.

Mass Spectrometric Identification of Antimicrobial Peptides from Medicinal Seeds

“…Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) from L. usitatissimum , T. pratense , and S. indicum have been primarily studied via transcriptomics rather than as mature peptides [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ]. LTPs accounted for 13 of 22 Cys-rich AMPs identified across the three seed extracts.…”

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of nsLTP Gene Family in Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Reveals Their Critical Roles in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses

“…An increasing number of studies have shown that plant nsLTP genes play an important role in the response to biotic and abiotic stresses and in plant growth and development [ 11 , 18 , 21 , 23 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 31 ]. To date, with the availability and feasibility of plant reference genomes, the nsLTP gene family has been identified at the genome-wide level in various plant species, including Arabidopsis, Gossypium , sesame, cotton, wheat, potato, tomato, tobacco, barley, maize, cabbage and Chinese cabbage [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. In this study, 283, 127, 151 and 106 nsLTP genes were identified in B. napus , B. rapa , B. oleracea and A. thaliana genomes, respectively.…”

“…The model dicot Arabidopsis has been reported to contain 79 nsLTP genes [ 42 ]. Studies showed that there are 77 in rice [ 42 ], 63 in maize [ 42 ], 58 in sorghum [ 42 ], 461 in wheat [ 43 ], 70 in barley [ 44 ], 63 in B. rapa [ 45 ], 89 in cabbage [ 46 ], 83 in potato [ 47 ], 64 in tomato [ 48 ], 51 in Gossypium arboretum [ 49 ], 47 in G. raimondii [ 49 ], 91 in G. hirsutum [ 49 ], 52 in sesame [ 50 ] and 64 in Arachis duranensis [ 51 ]. To date, there has been no systemic whole-genome analysis of the nsLTP gene ( BnLTPs ) family in B. napus under various abiotic/biotic stresses, as well as in seed development and germination, and seed coat color formation, although the reference genomes of different cultivars or ecotypes of B. napus have been published.…”

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Amino Acid Auxin Permease (AAAP) Gene Family and Identification of an AAAP Gene Associated with the Growth and Reproduction of the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

“…Gene duplication is considered one of the key evolutionary drivers of genes and genomes, providing raw genetic materials for the origin of physiological or morphological novelties [52,53]. Three types of gene duplication events can occur during organismal evolution: segmental duplication, tandem duplication, and transposon-mediated retroposition [54]. Tandem duplication is more common in the gene family expansion of diploid animals than in that of plants, resulting in a series of homologous genes closely arranged in the same or adjacent genomic regions [52].…”

“…Determining the spatiotemporal expression pattern is vital for elucidating the functional roles of genes [54]. In this study, the transcriptional expression of putative AAAP family members was profiled at 15 different life stages and in six different BPH tissues (Figure 5a,b).…”