Affiliation:
1. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Abstract
The MADS-box protein is an important transcription factor in plants and plays an important role in regulating the plant abiotic stress response. In this study, a total of 94 MADS-box genes were predicted in the litchi genome, and these genes were widely distributed on all the chromosomes. The LcMADS-box gene family was divided into six subgroups (Mα, Mβ, Mγ, Mδ, MIKC, and UN) based on their phylogenetical relationships with Arabidopsis, and the closely linked subgroups exhibited more similarity in terms of motif distribution and intron/exon numbers. Transcriptome analysis indicated that LcMADS-box gene expression varied in different tissues, which can be divided into universal expression and specific expression. Furthermore, we further validated that LcMADS-box genes can exhibit different responses to various stresses using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Moreover, physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, collinearity, and cis-acting elements were also analyzed. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the MADS-box gene family in litchi, specifically in relation to stress response. The identification of hormone-related and stress-responsive cis-acting elements in the MADS-box gene promoters suggests their involvement in stress signaling pathways. This study contributes to the understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms in litchi and highlights potential regulatory mechanisms underlying stress responses.
Funder
National Key-Area Research Program, China
Special Fund of Rural Revitalization Strategy
Fund for Technology Plan Project in Maoming City
Fund for Technology Plan Project in Shanwei City
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis