Abstract
BackgroundHigh affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) are located in the plasma membrane of the vessels and have significant influence on salt tolerance in some plants. They exclude Na+ from the parenchyma cells to reduce Na+ concentration. Despite many studies, the underlying regulatory mechanisms and the exact functions of HKTs within different genomic backgrounds are relatively unknown. In this study, various bioinformatics techniques, including promoter analysis, identification of HKT-surrounding genes, and construction of gene networks, were applied to investigate the HKT regulatory mechanism.ResultsPromoter analysis showed that rice HKTs carry ABA response elements. Additionally, jasmonic acid response elements were detected on promoter region of TmHKT1;5. In silico synteny highlighted several unknown and new loci near rice, Arabidopsis thaliana and Physcomitrella patent HKTs, which may play a significant role in salt stress tolerance in concert with HKTs. Gene network prediction unravelled that crosstalk between jasmonate and ethylene reduces AtHKT1;1 expression. Furthermore, antiporter and transferase proteins were found in AtHKT1;1 gene network. Interestingly, regulatory elements on the promoter region of HKT in wild genotype (TmHKT1;5) were more frequent and variable than the ones in cultivated wheat (TaHKT1;5) which provides the possibility of rapid response and better understanding of environmental conditions for wild genotype.ConclusionDetecting ABA and jasmonic acid response elements on promoter regions of HKTs provide valuable clues on underlying regulatory mechanisms of HKTs. In silico synteny and pathway discovery indicated several candidates which act in concert with HKTs in stress condition. We highlighted different arrangement of regulatory elements on promoter region of wild wheat (TmHKT1;5) compared to bread wheat (TaHKT1;5) in this study.
Highlights
Under salinity stress, the uptake of Na+ into cells occurs through multiple Na+-permeable cation channels/transporters, such as outward and inward-rectifying K+-selective channels, in particular non-selective cation channels in the plasma membrane [1]
Promoter analysis The sequences of all available HKTs in wheat, wild wheat relative (Triticum monococcum), rice and Physcomitrella patens were downloaded from the NCBI database
The putative promoter sequences of HKT genes in rice, bread wheat and T. monococcum were compared with known cisregulatory elements in the collection of the PLANT CARE database
Summary
The uptake of Na+ into cells occurs through multiple Na+-permeable cation channels/transporters, such as outward and inward-rectifying K+-selective channels, in particular non-selective cation channels in the plasma membrane [1]. In silico promoter analysis can produce valuable information about the function and signalling of a gene. The regulatory elements in promoters, such as transcription factor binding sites, are organized into distinct modules that control expression in many genes. High affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) are located in the plasma membrane of the vessels and have significant influence on salt tolerance in some plants. They exclude Na+ from the parenchyma cells to reduce Na+ concentration. Various bioinformatics techniques, including promoter analysis, identification of HKT-surrounding genes, and construction of gene networks, were applied to investigate the HKT regulatory mechanism
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