Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of BrGeBP Genes Reveal Their Potential Roles in Cold and Drought Stress Tolerance in Brassica rapa

Abstract

The GLABROUS1 Enhancer Binding Protein (GeBP) gene family is pivotal in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the role of GeBP in Brassica rapa remains unclear. This study identifies 20 BrGeBP genes distributed across 6 chromosomes, categorized into 4 subfamilies. Analysis of their promoter sequences reveals multiple stress-related elements, including those responding to drought, low temperature, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and gibberellin (GA). Gene expression profiling demonstrates wide expression of BrGeBPs in callus, stem, silique, and flower tissues. Notably, BrGeBP5 expression significantly decreases under low-temperature treatment, while BrGeBP3 and BrGeBP14 show increased expression during drought stress, followed by a decrease. Protein interaction predictions suggest that BrGeBP14 homolog, At5g28040, can interact with DES1, a known stress-regulating protein. Additionally, microRNA172 targeting BrGeBP5 is upregulated under cold tolerance. These findings underscore the vital role of BrGeBPs in abiotic stress tolerance. Specifically, BrGeBP3, BrGeBP5, and BrGeBP14 show great potential for regulating abiotic stress. This study contributes to understanding the function of BrGeBPs and provides valuable insights for studying abiotic stress in B. rapa.