Abstract
The transcriptional activation of heat shock proteins (Hsps) by heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) is presumed to have a pivotal role in plant heat stress (HS) response. Prunus mume is an ornamental woody plant with distinctive features, including rich varieties and colors. In this study, 18 Hsfs and 24 small Hsps (sHsps) were identified in P. mume. Their chromosomal locations, protein domains, conserved motifs, phylogenetic relationships, and exon–intron structures were analyzed and compared with Arabidopsis thaliana Hsfs or sHsps. A total of 18 PmHsf members were classified into three major classes, A, B, and C. A total of 24 PmsHsps were grouped into eight subfamilies (CI to CIII, P, endoplasmic reticulum, M, and CI- or P-related). Quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed that members of the A2, A7, and A9 groups became the prominent Hsfs after heat shock, suggesting their involvement in a key regulatory role of heat tolerance. Most of the PmsHsp genes were up-regulated upon exposure to HS. Overall, our data contribute to an improved understanding of the complexity of the P. mume Hsf and sHsp gene families, and provide a basis for directing future systematic studies investigating the roles of the Hsf and sHsp gene families.
Highlights
As sessile organisms, plants are unavoidably exposed to heat stress (HS)
Identification and chromosomal locations of the heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) and small Hsps (sHsps) genes in P. mume Through automated database searching and manual checks, 18 nonredundant Hsf and 24 sHsp genes were identified from the P. mume genome database
To determine their distribution in the P. mume genome, the locations of the Hsf and sHsp genes were mapped onto the P. mume chromosomes, and the genes were designated as PmHsf1-18 and PmsHsp1-24 based on the order of their locations on the chromosomes (Fig. 1)
Summary
Plants are unavoidably exposed to heat stress (HS). HS disturbs plant cellular homeostasis, which results in additional injuries. To relieve these adverse effects, higher plants have developed many responses to HS (Mittler, Finka & Goloubinoff, 2012). The accumulation of heat shock proteins (Hsps) is regulated by heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs), which play crucial roles in the HS response (HSR) and confer thermo-tolerance to plants and other organisms (Kotak et al, 2007; Ohama et al, 2016). Plant Hsfs contain at least two functional domains.
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