Abstract

The SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP)-box gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor family. This family plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. In this study, 20 SBP-box genes were identified in the tea plant genome and classified into six groups. The genes in each group shared similar exon-intron structures and motif positions. Expression pattern analyses in five different tissues demonstrated that expression in the buds and leaves was higher than that in other tissues. The cis-elements and expression patterns of the CsSBP genes suggested that the CsSBP genes play active roles in abiotic stress responses; these responses may depend on the abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) signaling pathways. Our work provides a comprehensive understanding of the CsSBP family and will aid in genetically improving tea plants.

Highlights

  • Tea is the oldest natural, nonalcoholic, caffeine-containing beverage and benefits human health due to its wealth of secondary metabolites, including catechins, theanine, polysaccharides, caffeine, and volatiles [1]

  • The AtSPL3 gene was the first SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP) gene identified in Arabidopsis, where it plays a pivotal role in promoting flowering under long-day conditions

  • We investigated the expression profiles of CsSBP genes in response to several abiotic stresses and plant hormones to determine their potential functions in stress tolerance

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Summary

Introduction

Tea is the oldest natural, nonalcoholic, caffeine-containing beverage and benefits human health due to its wealth of secondary metabolites, including catechins, theanine, polysaccharides, caffeine, and volatiles [1]. Tea plants are continuously challenged by a wide variety of abiotic stresses, such as low temperature, drought, and salinity [3,4]. Transcription factors (TFs) play critical roles in the regulation of physiological processes and adaptation to environmental stresses through various signal transduction pathways [6]. SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP)-box genes encode a plant-specific family of TFs that have a highly conserved SBP domain of approximately 76 amino acid residues. This conserved domain comprises three functionally important motifs, including two zinc-finger structures and a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) that partially overlaps with the second zinc-finger [7]. AtSPL3 recognizes a conserved element in the promoter region of APETALA1 (AP1), an ortholog of SQUAMOSA [9]

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