Abstract
Annexin (Ann) is a polygenic, evolutionarily conserved, calcium-dependent and phospholipid-binding protein family, which plays key roles in plant growth, development, and stress response. However, a comprehensive understanding of CaAnn genes of pepper (Capsicum annuum) at the genome-wide level is limited. Based on the available pepper genomic information, we identified 15 members of the CaAnn gene family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CaAnn proteins could be categorized into four different orthologous groups. Real time quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the CaAnn genes were tissue-specific and were widely expressed in pepper leaves after treatments with cold, salt, and drought, as well as exogenously applied MeJA and ABA. In addition, the function of CaAnn9 was further explored using the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technique. CaAnn9-silenced pepper seedlings were more sensitive to salt stress, reflected by the degradation of chlorophyll, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the decrease of antioxidant defense capacity. This study provides important information for further study of the role of pepper CaAnn genes and their coding proteins in growth, development, and environmental responses.
Highlights
Annexin (Ann), a subfamily of calcium (Ca2+)-dependent and phospholipid-binding protein, is evolutionarily conserved across plants, animals, and microorganisms [1]
In order to further determine the number of Ann candidates in the CM334 database, we searched C. annuum cv
The results showed that eight CaAnn genes were upregulated at different time points after abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, but twelve CaAnn genes were of 18 9 of 17
Summary
Annexin (Ann), a subfamily of calcium (Ca2+)-dependent and phospholipid-binding protein, is evolutionarily conserved across plants, animals, and microorganisms [1]. GhAnn expression is induced by plant hormones IAA and GA3 and downregulated GhAnn expression in cotton inhibits fiber elongation, possibly by regulating Ca2+ implantation at the cell apex [10]. In Arabidopsis, AtAnn and AtAnn interact in a Ca2+-dependent manner to regulate tolerance to salt and drought stresses [12]. AtAnn level is upregulated by heat treatment and positively regulates the heat-induced increase in [Ca2+]cyt and heat tolerance [13]. High temperature induces upregulation of OsAnn in rice, and overexpression of OsAnn in rice regulated ROS production at seedling stage, thereby enhancing heat tolerance [15]. Constitutive expression of annexin BjAnn in Brassica juncea enhances proline accumulation and maintains ion homeostasis, thereby improving salt tolerance, glucose, and ABA insensitivity of transgenic plants [17]. Annexin negatively regulates RPW8.1-mediated cell death and disease resistance in Arabidopsis [19]
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