Identification and Expression of SAUR Genes in the CAM Plant Agave.

Gang Deng,Xing Huang,Shibei Tan,Zhouli Xie,Li Xie,Yaning Bao,Thomas Gbokie,Kexian Yi

doi:10.3390/genes10070555

Abstract

Agave species are important crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants and widely cultivated in tropical areas for producing tequila spirit and fiber. The hybrid H11648 of Agave ((A. amaniensis × A. angustifolia) × A. amaniensis) is the main cultivar for fiber production in Brazil, China, and African countries. Small Auxin Up-regulated RNA (SAUR) genes have broad effect on auxin signaling-regulated plant growth and development, while only few SAUR genes have been reported in Agave species. In this study, we identified 43, 60, 24, and 21 SAUR genes with full-length coding regions in A. deserti, A. tequilana, A. H11648, and A. americana, respectively. Although phylogenetic analysis revealed that rice contained a species-specific expansion pattern of SAUR gene, no similar phenomena were observed in Agave species. The in silico expression indicated that SAUR genes had a distinct expression pattern in A. H11648 compared with other Agave species; and four SAUR genes were differentially expressed during CAM diel cycle in A. americana. Additionally, an expression analysis was conducted to estimate SAUR gene expression during different leaf developmental stages, abiotic and biotic stresses in A. H11648. Together, we first characterized the SAUR genes of Agave based on previously published transcriptome datasets and emphasized the potential functions of SAUR genes in Agave’s leaf development and stress responses. The identification of which further expands our understanding on auxin signaling-regulated plant growth and development in Agave species.

Highlights

Small Auxin Up-regulated RNA (SAUR) family is one of the important gene families that are involved in auxin signaling-regulated plant growth and development [1]
We found 43, 60, 24 and 21 SAUR genes with full-length coding regions in A. deserti, A. tequilana, A
The similar numbers of Agave genes located in chloroplast and plasma membranes, while more genes in A. deserti were located in the cytoplasm than other Agave species

Summary

Introduction

Small Auxin Up-regulated RNA (SAUR) family is one of the important gene families that are involved in auxin signaling-regulated plant growth and development [1]. Genome-wide identification of SAUR genes has been performed in rice [22], Arabidopsis, maize, sorghum [23], tomato, potato [24], citrus [17], moso bamboo [25], watermelon [26], cotton [27] and poplar [28]. Most of those contain the species-specific expansion pattern, which probably contributes to the evolution of special traits among different species [23,26]. Consider SAUR genes are crucial effectors of hormonal and environmental signals, functional characterization of SAUR genes will broaden our understanding in plant growth and development [29,30]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion