Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization and Expression Analysis of the Chalcone Synthase Family in Maize.

Yahui Han,Ting Ding,Bo Su,Haiyang Jiang

doi:10.3390/ijms17020161

Yahui Han, Ting Ding + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17020161

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Abstract

Members of the chalcone synthase (CHS) family participate in the synthesis of a series of secondary metabolites in plants, fungi and bacteria. The metabolites play important roles in protecting land plants against various environmental stresses during the evolutionary process. Our research was conducted on comprehensive investigation of CHS genes in maize (Zea mays L.), including their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, chromosomal locations and expression analysis. Fourteen CHS genes (ZmCHS01–14) were identified in the genome of maize, representing one of the largest numbers of CHS family members identified in one organism to date. The gene family was classified into four major classes (classes I–IV) based on their phylogenetic relationships. Most of them contained two exons and one intron. The 14 genes were unevenly located on six chromosomes. Two segmental duplication events were identified, which might contribute to the expansion of the maize CHS gene family to some extent. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR and microarray data analyses suggested that ZmCHS genes exhibited various expression patterns, indicating functional diversification of the ZmCHS genes. Our results will contribute to future studies of the complexity of the CHS gene family in maize and provide valuable information for the systematic analysis of the functions of the CHS gene family.

Highlights

Chalcone synthase (CHS, enzyme commission number: E.C. 2.3.1.74) is an important enzyme which catalyzes the first key step during the progress of flavonoid biosynthesis
Sixty-five candidate chalcone synthase (CHS) protein sequences were identified by querying the maize genome database with the consensus protein sequences of the CHS family
Two segmental duplication events were found among the 14 ZmCHS genes

Summary

Introduction

Chalcone synthase (CHS, enzyme commission number: E.C. 2.3.1.74) is an important enzyme which catalyzes the first key step during the progress of flavonoid biosynthesis. This family includes other members such as biphenyl synthase [5], 2-pyrone synthase (2-PS) [6], benzalacetone synthase [7], stilbene synthase [8], bibenzyl synthase [9], benzophenone synthase [10], pentaketide chromone synthase [11], octaketide synthase [12] and p-coumaroyltriacetic acid synthase [13] All these other enzymes have differences from CHS in many aspects, such as the choice of initial substrates, the number of condensation reactions, and the mechanisms by which the resulting intermediates are cyclized and aromatized. The CHS family had been studied comprehensively in Physcomitrella patens [28]

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