Abstract
BackgroundPhosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) constitute a common gene family found among animals, plants and microbes. Plant PEBP proteins play an important role in regulating flowering time, plant architecture as well as seed dormancy. Though PEBP family genes have been well studied in Arabidopsis and other model species, less is known about these genes in perennial trees.ResultsTo understand the evolution of PEBP genes and their functional roles in flowering control, we identified 56 PEBP members belonging to three gene clades (MFT-like, FT-like, and TFL1-like) and five lineages (FT, BFT, CEN, TFL1, and MFT) across nine Rosaceae perennial species. Structural analysis revealed highly conserved gene structure and protein motifs among Rosaceae PEBP proteins. Codon usage analysis showed slightly biased codon usage across five gene lineages. With selection pressure analysis, we detected strong purifying selection constraining divergence within most lineages, while positive selection driving the divergence of FT-like and TFL1-like genes from the MFT-like gene clade. Spatial and temporal expression analyses revealed the essential role of FT in regulating floral bud breaking and blooming in P. mume. By employing a weighted gene co-expression network approach, we inferred a putative FT regulatory module required for dormancy release and blooming in P. mume.ConclusionsWe have characterized the PEBP family genes in nine Rosaceae species and examined their phylogeny, genomic syntenic relationship, duplication pattern, and expression profiles during flowering process. These results revealed the evolutionary history of PEBP genes and their functions in regulating floral bud development and blooming among Rosaceae tree species.
Highlights
Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) constitute a common gene family found among animals, plants and microbes
Characterization of PEBP genes in Rosaceae species By combining HMM and BLAST searches, we identified 56 PEBP-like proteins across nine Rosaceae tree species (Table 1)
Tissue‐specific expression patterns of PEBPs To explore the functional roles of PEBP genes, we examined their expression patterns in different tissues of four Rosaceae species, P. persica, P. mume, P. yedoensis, and R. occidentalis (Fig. 7a–d)
Summary
Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) constitute a common gene family found among animals, plants and microbes. Plant PEBP proteins play an important role in regulating flowering time, plant architecture as well as seed dormancy. Proper timing of flowering is a key adaptive strategy in plant species, especially temperate woody perennials [1,2,3]. In temperate tree species, flower buds initiate and develop during summer, undergo a short period of dormancy, exit dormancy after exposure to chilling temperatures and bloom in suitable environments [6]. It is important to study the flowering time control in perennial species and understand their adaptation mechanisms in synchronizing the timing of floral bud breaking and reproduction with local climate [10, 13, 14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call