Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been identified in a wide range of organisms and are believed to play a role in the adaptation of plants to stress conditions. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification of LEA proteins and their coding genes in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) of Poaceae. A total of 23 genes encoding LEA proteins (PeLEAs) were found in P. edulis that could be classified to six groups based on Pfam protein family and homologous analysis. Further in silico analyses of the structures, gene amount, and biochemical characteristics were conducted and compared with those of O. sativa (OsLEAs), B. distachyon (BdLEAs), Z. mays (ZmLEAs), S. bicolor (SbLEAs), Arabidopsis, and Populus trichocarpa. The less number of PeLEAs was found. Evolutionary analysis revealed orthologous relationship and colinearity between P. edulis, O. sativa, B. distachyon, Z. mays, and S. bicolor. Analyses of the non-synonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks)substitution rates and their ratios indicated that the duplication of PeLEAs may have occurred around 18.8 million years ago (MYA), and divergence time of LEA family among the P. edulis-O. sativa and P. edulis–B. distachyon, P. edulis-S. bicolor, and P. edulis-Z. mays was approximately 30 MYA, 36 MYA, 48 MYA, and 53 MYA, respectively. Almost all PeLEAs contain ABA- and (or) stress-responsive regulatory elements. Further RNA-seq analysis revealed approximately 78% of PeLEAs could be up-regulated by dehydration and cold stresses. The present study makes insights into the LEA family in P. edulis and provides inventory of stress-responsive genes for further functional validation and transgenic research aiming to plant genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance.
Highlights
As sessile organisms, plants have evolved a wide spectrum of adaptations to cope with the inevitable challenges of environmental stress, such as drought, high salinity, and cold, etc
By Pfam family domain analysis, 21 candidates could be assigned to late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) family, in which 6 were supported by known full-length cDNA (FLcDNA) or EST (S1 Table)
One gene was found in groups LEA_1 and LEA_6; Four LEA2 proteins were detected; Both group LEA_3 and group LEA_4 were comprised of five proteins, and six proteins are assigned as dehydrins
Summary
Plants have evolved a wide spectrum of adaptations to cope with the inevitable challenges of environmental stress, such as drought, high salinity, and cold, etc. The late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins constitute of a family of hydrophilic proteins that are presumed to play a protective role during exposure to different abiotic stresses. They were first described to highly accumulate during the late stages of cotton seed development, when the embryo becomes desiccation tolerant [1]. They were found in the seeds of many other plants, and detected in vegetative organs. They are usually induced under stress conditions such as cold, drought, or high salinity [2, 3]
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