Evolution of pectin synthesis relevant galacturonosyltransferase gene family and its expression during cotton fiber development

Senmiao Fan,Aiying Liu,Xianyan Zou,Juwu Gong,Youlu Yuan,Xiaoying Deng,Tingting Jia,Yuzhen Shi,Wankui Gong,Junwen Li,Qun Ge,Haihong Shang,Zhen Zhang

doi:10.1186/s42397-021-00099-z

Abstract

BackgroundPectin is a key substance involved in cell wall development, and the galacturonosyltransferases (GAUTs) gene family is a critical participant in the pectin synthesis pathway. Systematic and comprehensive research on GAUTs has not been performed in cotton. Analysis of the evolution and expression patterns of the GAUT gene family in different cotton species is needed to increase knowledge of the function of pectin in cotton fiber development.ResultsIn this study, we have identified 131 GAUT genes in the genomes of four Gossypium species (G. raimondii, G. barbadense, G. hirsutum, and G. arboreum), and classified them as GAUT-A, GAUT-B and GAUT-C, which coding probable galacturonosyltransferases. Among them, the GAUT genes encode proteins GAUT1 to GAUT15. All GAUT proteins except for GAUT7 contain a conserved glycosyl transferase family 8 domain (H-DN-A-SVV-S-V-H-T-F). The conserved sequence of GAUT7 is PLN (phospholamban) 02769 domain. According to cis-elemet analysis, GAUT genes transcript levels may be regulated by hormones such as JA, GA, SA, ABA, Me-JA, and IAA. The evolution and transcription patterns of the GAUT gene family in different cotton species and the transcript levels in upland cotton lines with different fiber strength were analyzed. Peak transcript level of GhGAUT genes have been observed before 15 DPA. In the six materials with high fiber strength, the transcription of GhGAUT genes were concentrated from 10 to 15 DPA; while the highest transcript levels in low fiber strength materials were detected between 5 and 10 DPA. These results lays the foundation for future research on gene function during cotton fiber development.ConclusionsThe GAUT gene family may affect cotton fiber development, including fiber elongation and fiber thickening. In the low strength fiber lines, GAUTs mainly participate in fiber elongation, whereas their major effect on cotton with high strength fiber is related to both elongation and thickening.

Highlights

Pectin is a key substance involved in cell wall development, and the galacturonosyltransferases (GAUTs) gene family is a critical participant in the pectin synthesis pathway
According to the Pfam database and a bioinformatics analysis, all inferred proteins have a Glyco_transf_8-like domain (PF01501), which indicates that the corresponding genes belong to the GAUT gene family (Kikuchi et al 2003)
To identify the GAUT gene in Gossypium species, we identified 187 GAUT genes from eight species (Fig. S1), including 131 genes from the following species: G. hirsutum (41 genes), G. barbadense (42 genes), G. arboreum (25 genes) and G. raimondii (23 genes)

Summary

Introduction

Pectin is a key substance involved in cell wall development, and the galacturonosyltransferases (GAUTs) gene family is a critical participant in the pectin synthesis pathway. Analysis of the evolution and expression patterns of the GAUT gene family in different cotton species is needed to increase knowledge of the function of pectin in cotton fiber development. The cell wall structure of cotton fiber is composed of pectin and cellulose. The synthesis and decomposition of pectin are important factors affecting cotton fiber formation (Basra et al 1984). Pectin, which plays a critical role in plant growth and development, is mainly found in the primary and middle layers of plant cell walls, and participates in the formation of plant tissue structure, biotic and abiotic stress processes. The synthesis of pectin involves at least 53 different glycosyltransferases localized on the Golgi apparatus (Ridley et al 2001)

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