Molecular characterization of the genome-wide BOR transporter family and their responses to boron conditions in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Boron (B) deficiency is an agricultural problem that causes significant yield losses in many countries. B transporters (BORs) are responsible for B uptake and distribution and play important roles in yield formation. A comprehensive analysis of the BOR family members in common wheat is still lacking. In the present study, to clarify the molecular characterization and response to B status, genome-wide TaBOR genes and expression patterns were investigated. Fourteen TaBOR genes were identified in common wheat by a homology search. The corresponding phylogenetic tree indicated that 14 TaBOR genes were separately classified into subfamilies of TaBOR1, TaBOR3, and TaBOR4. All TaBOR genes had 12–14 extrons and 11–13 introns. Most TaBOR proteins contained 10 conserved motifs, and motifs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 constituted the conserved bicarbonate (HCO3–) domain. Fourteen TaBOR genes were mapped on 13 chromosomes mainly distributed in the first, third, fifth, and seventh homologous groups. The promoters of TaBOR genes consisted of phytohormones, light responses, and stress-related cis-elements. GO analysis indicated that TaBOR genes were enriched in terms of transmembrane transport and ion homeostasis. TaBOR genes showed diverse expression profiles in different tissues. The members of the TaBOR1 subfamily showed high expression in grains, leaves, roots, stems, and spikes, but members of the TaBOR4 subfamily were highly expressed only in spikes and grains. RT–qPCR indicated that TaBOR1-5A, TaBOR1-5B, and TaBOR1-5D were induced by low B concentrations and had much higher expression in roots than in shoots. TaBOR3-3A, TaBOR3-3B, TaBOR3-3D, TaBOR4-1A, TaBOR4-1B, TaBOR4-1D, and TaBOR3-4B were induced by low and high B concentrations and had high expression in roots and shoots. TaBOR3-4D and TaBOR3-7B were upregulated by low and high B concentrations, respectively, but had expression only in roots. Our results provide basic information on the TaBOR family, which is beneficial for elucidating the functions of TaBOR genes to overcome the problem of B deficiency.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the MADS gene family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) infested with pathogenic bacteria

“…The protein sequences of the 82 sweet orange MADS gene family members obtained from the identification were functionally annotated through eggNOG-mapper ( http://eggnog-mapper.embl.de/ ). The annotated results were visualized through the Biosign Analysis website ( http://www.bioinformatics.com.cn/plot_basic_GOplot_chord_plot_085 ) ( Wang et al, 2022a ; Wang et al, 2022b ).…”

“…The gene MADS derives its name from the first letter of four different proteins in the same family, namely, MINICHROMOSEME MAINTENANCE 1 (MCM1) in yeast ( Messenguy & Dubois, 2003 ), AGAMOUS (AG) in Arabidopsis , DEFICIENS (DEF) in goldenrod ( Hager & Yanofsky, 1990 ) and the human serum response and proto-oncogene transcriptional regulator SERUM RESPONSE FACTOR (SRF) ( Wong, Axibal & Brown, 2019 ). These four proteins all have a highly conserved MADS structural domain consisting of approximately 60 amino acids at the N-terminal end, and these genes are known as the MADS gene family ( Wang et al, 2022a ; Wang et al, 2022b ). The MADS gene family plays an extremely vital role in the adversity stress response.…”

Duplicate Genes Contribute to Variability in Abiotic Stress Resistance in Allopolyploid Wheat

“…In plants, various transporters were reported related to the transport of Ca, Na, and other important molecules during stress response to maintain ion homeostasis in the plant cell [59][60][61]. Hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channels (OSCAs) [62,63], boron transporters (BOR) [64,65], mechanosensitive channels of small conductance-like (MSL) genes [66], Ca 2+ /cation antiporters (CaCAs) [67], cation proton antiporters (CPAs) [68], P-type II Ca 2+ ATPases [69], and thaumatin-like protein kinases (TLPKs) in the bread wheat gene family were identified and analyzed for their expression pattern under abiotic stress [70]. For example, the gene pairs TaMSL4-A1 and TaMSL7-A in MSL were both drought-induced, but the expression of TaMSL4-A1 was inhibited under heat stress and in the early stage of salt stress, while the expression of TaMSL7-A was up-regulated under heat stress and the under early salt stress, which indicates the response of paraline homologous genes was different under different abiotic stresses; the expression was also diverse and began to express and function under different levels of stress [63].…”

“…For example, the gene pairs TaMSL4-A1 and TaMSL7-A in MSL were both drought-induced, but the expression of TaMSL4-A1 was inhibited under heat stress and in the early stage of salt stress, while the expression of TaMSL7-A was up-regulated under heat stress and the under early salt stress, which indicates the response of paraline homologous genes was different under different abiotic stresses; the expression was also diverse and began to express and function under different levels of stress [63]. The cation proton antiporter (CPA) superfamily, including K + efflux antiporter (KEA) and cation/H + exchanger (CHX) family proteins as well as the Na + /H + exchanger (NHX), TaNHX4-B.1, and TaNHX4-B.4, facilitated differential drought, salt, and heat stress tolerance to Escherichia coli [64]. A similar phenomenon occurs with transcription factors, in which orthologous or paralogue genes that are produced via gene duplication exhibit identical or opposite expression patterns when subjected to abiotic stress, including NAC [71][72][73][74], DREB [75], Hsf [76][77][78][79], MYB [80,81], bZIP [82,83], WRKY [84,85], AP2/ERF [86], GRF [87], and the homeobox genes HD-Zip [88], TALE [89,90], ZF-HD [91], and WOX [92,93].…”