Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the CsFHY3/FAR1 Gene Family and Expression Analysis under Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis).

Zhengjun Liu,Chunmei Gong,Yiqing Zhao,Yao Xiao,Lu Bao,Yuefang Gao,Chuanjing An

doi:10.3390/plants10030570

Abstract

The FHY3/FAR1 transcription factor family, derived from transposases, plays important roles in light signal transduction, and in the growth and development of plants. However, the homologous genes in tea plants have not been studied. In this study, 25 CsFHY3/FAR1 genes were identified in the tea plant genome through a genome-wide study, and were classified into five subgroups based on their phylogenic relationships. Their potential regulatory roles in light signal transduction and photomorphogenesis, plant growth and development, and hormone responses were verified by the existence of the corresponding cis-acting elements. The transcriptome data showed that these genes could respond to salt stress and shading treatment. An expression analysis revealed that, in different tissues, especially in leaves, CsFHY3/FAR1s were strongly expressed, and most of these genes were positively expressed under salt stress (NaCl), and negatively expressed under low temperature (4 °C) stress. In addition, a potential interaction network demonstrated that PHYA, PHYC, PHYE, LHY, FHL, HY5, and other FRSs were directly or indirectly associated with CsFHY3/FAR1 members. These results will provide the foundation for functional studies of the CsFHY3/FAR1 family, and will contribute to the breeding of tea varieties with high light efficiency and strong stress resistance.

Highlights

As an indispensable environmental factor, light is involved in many biological processes, including plant growth and development, photomorphogenesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and chloroplast development [1,2]
A total of 25 putative CsFHY3/FAR1 genes were retrieved from the tea plant genome [37], named CsFRS-1 to CsFRS-25
It is noteworthy that several members, such as CsFRS-1, CsFRS-7, CsFRS-14, CsFRS-16, CsFRS-18, and CsFRS-23, were predicted to be located in the chloroplast and/or cytoplasm, which suggested the evolution of potentially new functions in these locations for these proteins

Summary

Introduction

As an indispensable environmental factor, light is involved in many biological processes, including plant growth and development, photomorphogenesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and chloroplast development [1,2]. In order to ensure their normal growth and development, higher plants have evolved sophisticated and multiple photoreceptors which can sense and adapt to the light environment, such as phytochromes, cryptochromes, phototropins, and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) receptors [3,4,5]. The active form of PHYA is translocated to the nucleus in order to perform its activity through interactions with small FAR-RED. ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL1 (FHY1) or FHY1-like (FHL) proteins, which contain the nuclear targeting sequence [9]. Upstream of FHY1/FHL, FAR-RED ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL3 (FHY3) and its homologous gene

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Discussion

Conclusion