Genome-wide cloning, identification, classification and functional analysis of cotton heat shock transcription factors in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Abstract

BackgroundHeat shock transcriptional factors (Hsfs) play important roles in the processes of biotic and abiotic stresses as well as in plant development. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, 2n = 4x = (AD)2 = 52) is an important crop for natural fiber production. Due to continuous high temperature and intermittent drought, heat stress is becoming a handicap to improve cotton yield and lint quality. Recently, the related wild diploid species Gossypium raimondii genome (2n = 2x = (D5)2 = 26) has been fully sequenced. In order to analyze the functions of different Hsfs at the genome-wide level, detailed characterization and analysis of the Hsf gene family in G. hirsutum is indispensable.ResultsEST assembly and genome-wide analyses were applied to clone and identify heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) genes in Upland cotton (GhHsf). Forty GhHsf genes were cloned, identified and classified into three main classes (A, B and C) according to the characteristics of their domains. Analysis of gene duplications showed that GhHsfs have occurred more frequently than reported in plant genomes such as Arabidopsis and Populus. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that all GhHsf transcripts are expressed in most cotton plant tissues including roots, stems, leaves and developing fibers, and abundantly in developing ovules. Three expression patterns were confirmed in GhHsfs when cotton plants were exposed to high temperature for 1 h. GhHsf39 exhibited the most immediate response to heat shock. Comparative analysis of Hsfs expression differences between the wild-type and fiberless mutant suggested that Hsfs are involved in fiber development.ConclusionsComparative genome analysis showed that Upland cotton D-subgenome contains 40 Hsf members, and that the whole genome of Upland cotton contains more than 80 Hsf genes due to genome duplication. The expression patterns in different tissues in response to heat shock showed that GhHsfs are important for heat stress as well as fiber development. These results provide an improved understanding of the roles of the Hsf gene family during stress responses and fiber development.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-961) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Heat shock transcription factor 3 regulates plant immune response through modulation of salicylic acid accumulation and signalling in cassava

“…Hsfs were initially characterized and cloned in yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) (Sorger and Pelham, ), followed by various plants (Huang et al ., ; Singh et al ., ; Yabuta, ). With the genome sequencing of more and more plant species, the Hsf gene family has been thoroughly identified and characterized in alfalfa (Friedberg et al ., ), Arabidopsis thaliana (Guo et al ., ), rice ( Oryza sativa L.) (Chauhan et al ., ; Jin et al ., ; Wang et al ., ), maize (Lin et al ., ), Populus trichocarpa and Medicago truncatula (Wang et al ., ), Glycine max (Chung et al ., ), wheat (Chauhan et al ., ), Chinese cabbage (Song et al ., ), pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) (Guo et al ., ), legume (Lin et al ., ), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) (Wang et al ., ), soybean (Li et al ., ), pear ( Pyrus bretschneideri ) (Qiao et al ., ), Brassica rapa pekinensis (Huang et al ., ), Populus euphratica (Shen et al ., 2015), tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ) (Liu et al ., ), strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ) (Hu Y et al ., ) and wild Chinese grapevine ( Vitis pseudoreticulata ) (Hu et al ., ). So far, plant Hsfs have been found to be widely involved in plant development, heat stress, drought stress, salt stress and the plant disease response (Almoguera et al ., ; Cheng et al ., ; Giesguth et al ., ; Hwang et al ., ; Tanabe et al ., ; Yabuta, ).…”

Tomato plant cell death induced by inhibition of HSP90 is alleviated by Tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection

“…Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are involved in the regulation of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses (reviewed by Wang et al, 2014b). In avian cells, it was shown that the inhibition of the 26S proteasome induced the expression of HSFs and, consequently, of the key heat shock proteins (HSPs) HSP70 and HSP90, even in the absence of heat stress (Kawazoe et al, 1998).…”

Recent Developments in Fiber Genomics of Tetraploid Cotton Species

“…Exposure to high temperature in cotton plants showed that GhHsfs39 demonstrated the most rapid response to the heat shock. It has been suggested that a differential expression of Hsfs may thus play a role in the fiber development that requires further study [89].…”