The Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein Family in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz): Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression during Abiotic Stress.

Chunlai Wu,Jianchun Guo,Zehong Ding,Guangyuan He,Wei Hu,Weiwei Tie,Yan Yan

doi:10.3390/molecules23051196

Abstract

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, as a highly diverse group of polypeptides, play an important role in plant adaptation to abiotic stress; however, LEAs from cassava have not been studied in cassava. In this study, 26 LEA members were genome-wide identified from cassava, which were clustered into seven subfamily according to evolutionary relationship, protein motif, and gene structure analyses. Chromosomal location and duplication event analyses suggested that 26 MeLEAs distributed in 10 chromosomes and 11 MeLEA paralogues were subjected to purifying selection. Transcriptomic analysis showed the expression profiles of MeLEAs in different tissues of stem, leaves, and storage roots of three accessions. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the function of MeLEAs in response to drought may be differentiated in different accessions. Compared with the wild subspecies W14, more MeLEA genes were activated in cultivated varieties Arg7 and SC124 after drought treatment. Several MeLEA genes showed induction under various stresses and related signaling treatments. Taken together, this study demonstrates the transcriptional control of MeLEAs in tissue development and the responses to abiotic stress in cassava and identifies candidate genes for improving crop resistance to abiotic stress.

Highlights

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein was first found to accumulate during the late embryogenesis in cotton seed [1]
We identified 26 MeLEAs from the cassava genome, which is shrunk in comparison to LEA members from Arabidopsis [3], rice [2], Brassica napus [8], Brachypodium distachyon [28], and Populus trichocarpa [29], but expanded compared with that from moso bamboo [27]
LEAs in Arabidopsis were classified into nine subfamilies (LEA_1, LEA_2, LEA_3, LEA_4, LEA_5, PvLEA18, dehydrin, seed maturation protein (SMP), and AtM), in which AtM was unique to the Brassicaceae [3]

Summary

Introduction

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein was first found to accumulate during the late embryogenesis in cotton seed [1]. They were identified from various plant species, including rice, Arabidopsis, maize, barley, wheat, sunflower bean, and Brassica napus [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Most of the LEA protein families have a unique subcellular localization, which is involved in protecting the stability of cells under stress conditions [3,14]. LEA proteins function as a protectant of membranes and biomolecules [14]. LEA proteins aid in sequestration of calcium and metal ions, a benefit for signaling transduction [17]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion