Comparative Analysis of the Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Family of Four Triticeae Species and Transcriptome Analysis of GST Genes in Common Wheat Responding to Salt Stress

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are ancient proteins encoded by a large gene family in plants, which play multiple roles in plant growth and development. However, there has been little study on the GST genes of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) and its relatives (Triticum durum, Triticum urartu, and Aegilops tauschii), which are four important species of Triticeae. Here, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis of this gene family was performed on the genomes of common wheat and its relatives. A total of 346 GST genes in T. aestivum, 226 in T. durum, 104 in T. urartu, and 105 in Ae. tauschii were identified, and all members were divided into ten classes. Transcriptome analysis was used to identify GST genes that respond to salt stress in common wheat, which revealed that the reaction of GST genes is not sensitive to low and moderate salt concentrations but is sensitive to severe concentrations of the stressor, and the GST genes related to salt stress mainly come from the Tau and Phi classes. Six GST genes which respond to different salt concentrations were selected and validated by a qRT-PCR assay. These findings will not only provide helpful information about the function of GST genes in Triticeae species but also offer insights for the future application of salt stress resistance breeding in common wheat.

Genome-wide survey of the dehydrin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its relatives: identification, evolution and expression profiling under various abiotic stresses

“…The missing genes were also identified according to the relationships between homologous groups, like TuDHN2 was identified as a missing gene because although TaDHN2-A/B/D , TdDHN2-A/B , and AetDHN2-D were localized to homologous group 3, their corresponding homoeologs on chromosome 3A of T. urartu genome were absent. Similar gene loss is widespread in other gene families and may occur during the wheat polyploidization process [ 5 , 46 , 47 ]. Although genes were missing from some genomic regions, homologous relationships were clear among the DHN genes located in different diploid sub-genomes, indicating that this gene family is evolutionarily well-conserved.…”

“…Wild emmer wheat hybridized with Ae. tauschii (DD; 2n = 2x = 14) about 8000 years ago to produce hexaploid bread wheat [ 5 ]. Environmental stressors including abiotic stressors (e.g., drought, salinity, and high and low temperatures) [ 6 – 8 ] and biotic stressors like Fusarium graminearum ( Fusarium head blight or FHB), Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew), and Puccinia striiformis (stripe rust) challenge bread wheat yield during its growth phase [ 9 ].…”

Genomic Analysis of the Glutathione S-Transferase Family in Pear (Pyrus communis) and Functional Identification of PcGST57 in Anthocyanin Accumulation

“…Initially, only three GST subfamilies were identified, including Theta, Tau, and Zeta [ 43 ]. Subsequently, the GST gene family was systematically and comprehensively analyzed, and increasing GST members were identified in various plant species, including maize [ 42 ], soybean [ 44 ], Arabidopsis [ 45 ], apple [ 36 ], strawberry [ 21 ], tomato [ 28 ], Citrus sinensis [ 46 ], kiwifruit [ 47 ], cotton [ 19 ], radish [ 22 ], wheat [ 48 ], and pepper [ 49 ]. The number of GST family members and the number of subfamilies vary in different plant species.…”

Proteomics and Functional Analysis Revealed TaGSTU6/TaCBSX3 Enhances Wheat Resistance to Powdery Mildew

“…GSTs constitute an ancient, rich class of multifunctional proteases and are encoded by a multi-gene family. A genome-wide comprehensive analyses have identified 346 GST genes and 87 TaGSTU members in common wheat (Hao et al, 2021; Wang et al, 2016). RT-qPCR assays show that the TaGSTU6 , TaGSTU4 and TaGSTU7 are significantly up-regulated in the incompatible wheat- Bgt interaction ( Supplemental Fig.…”