Zihan Cheng1, Xuemei Zhang1, Wenjing Yao1,2, Kai Zhao1, Lin Liu1, Gaofeng Fan1, Boru Zhou3, Tingbo Jiang4. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. 2. Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, Nanjing, 210037, China. 3. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. boruzhou@yahoo.com. 4. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. tbjiang@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Late Embryogenesis-Abundant (LEA) gene families, which play significant roles in regulation of tolerance to abiotic stresses, widely exist in higher plants. Poplar is a tree species that has important ecological and economic values. But systematic studies on the gene family have not been reported yet in poplar. RESULTS: On the basis of genome-wide search, we identified 88 LEA genes from Populus trichocarpa and renamed them as PtrLEA. The PtrLEA genes have fewer introns, and their promoters contain more cis-regulatory elements related to abiotic stress tolerance. Our results from comparative genomics indicated that the PtrLEA genes are conserved and homologous to related genes in other species, such as Eucalyptus robusta, Solanum lycopersicum and Arabidopsis. Using RNA-Seq data collected from poplar under two conditions (with and without salt treatment), we detected 24, 22 and 19 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots, stems and leaves, respectively. Then we performed spatiotemporal expression analysis of the four up-regulated DEGs shared by the tissues, constructed gene co-expression-based networks, and investigated gene function annotations. CONCLUSION: Lines of evidence indicated that the PtrLEA genes play significant roles in poplar growth and development, as well as in responses to salt stress.
BACKGROUND: The Late Embryogenesis-Abundant (LEA) gene families, which play significant roles in regulation of tolerance to abiotic stresses, widely exist in higher plants. Poplar is a tree species that has important ecological and economic values. But systematic studies on the gene family have not been reported yet in poplar. RESULTS: On the basis of genome-wide search, we identified 88 LEA genes from Populus trichocarpa and renamed them as PtrLEA. The PtrLEA genes have fewer introns, and their promoters contain more cis-regulatory elements related to abiotic stress tolerance. Our results from comparative genomics indicated that the PtrLEA genes are conserved and homologous to related genes in other species, such as Eucalyptus robusta, Solanum lycopersicum and Arabidopsis. Using RNA-Seq data collected from poplar under two conditions (with and without salt treatment), we detected 24, 22 and 19 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots, stems and leaves, respectively. Then we performed spatiotemporal expression analysis of the four up-regulated DEGs shared by the tissues, constructed gene co-expression-based networks, and investigated gene function annotations. CONCLUSION: Lines of evidence indicated that the PtrLEA genes play significant roles in poplar growth and development, as well as in responses to saltstress.
Entities:
Keywords:
Evolutionary analyses; Expression patterns; LEA; Poplar; Salt stress
Authors: Hongzhi Kong; Lena L Landherr; Michael W Frohlich; Jim Leebens-Mack; Hong Ma; Claude W dePamphilis Journal: Plant J Date: 2007-04-23 Impact factor: 6.417