Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiling of the SUC and SWEET Gene Families of Sucrose Transporters in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Abstract

Sucrose is the principal transported product of photosynthesis from source leaves to sink organs. SUTs/SUCs (sucrose transporters or sucrose carriers) and SWEETs (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) play significant central roles in phloem loading and unloading. SUTs/SUCs and SWEETs are key players in sucrose translocation and are associated with crop yields. The SUT/SUC and SWEET genes have been characterized in several plant species, but a comprehensive analysis of these two gene families in oilseed rape has not yet been reported. In our study, 22 and 68 members of the SUT/SUCs and SWEET gene families, respectively, were identified in the oilseed rape (Brassica napus) genome through homology searches. An analysis of the chromosomal distribution, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, motifs and the cis-acting regulatory elements in the promoters of BnSUC and BnSWEET genes were analyzed. Furthermore, we examined the expression of the 18 BnSUC and 16 BnSWEET genes in different tissues of “ZS11” and the expression of 9 BnSUC and 7 BnSWEET genes in “ZS11” under various conditions, including biotic stress (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), abiotic stresses (drought, salt and heat), and hormone treatments (abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinin, brassinolide, gibberellin, and salicylic acid). In conclusion, our study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the oilseed rape SUC and SWEET gene families. Information regarding the phylogenetic relationships, gene structure and expression profiles of the SUC and SWEET genes in the different tissues of oilseed rape helps to identify candidates with potential roles in specific developmental processes. Our study advances our understanding of the important roles of sucrose transport in oilseed rape.

Genome-Wide Profiling and Phylogenetic Analysis of the SWEET Sugar Transporter Gene Family in Walnut and Their Lack of Responsiveness to Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis Infection

“…Host SWEET proteins are induced in many other systems such as the infection of A. thaliana by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, and by the obligate biotrophic powdery mildew pathogen Golovinomyces cichoracearum [28], the infection of grapes with Botrytis cinerea [29], Medicago truncatula with Sinorhizobium meliloti [30], oilseed rape by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [31], wheat by Puccinia [32], banana by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 [33], and cabbage by Plasmodiophora brassicae [34].…”

Genome Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of SWEET Genes Family Reveals Its Role During Plasmodiophora brassicae-Induced Formation of Clubroot in Brassica rapa

“…SWEETs are a class of proteins responsible for transporting sugar across cell membranes, involving in diverse physiological processes of various plant species, such as in reproductive development ( Ge et al, 2000 ; Yang et al, 2006 ; Guan et al, 2008 ), leaf senescence ( Quirino et al, 1999 ; Seo et al, 2011 ), and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses in Arabidopsis and rice ( Chu et al, 2006 ; Yang et al, 2006 ; Antony et al, 2010 ; Chen et al, 2010 ; Liu et al, 2011 ). SWEETs genes are evolutionally conserved in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes ( Gamas et al, 1996 ; Artero et al, 1998 ; Chong et al, 2014 ; Jian et al, 2016 ), but plant species possess more SWEETs than that in animals and prokaryotes ( Yuan and Wang, 2013 ). Phylogenetic analysis of plant SWEET genes revealed that they can be grouped into 4 clades as firstly defined in A. thaliana ( Chen et al, 2010 ).…”

Molecular Evolution and Stress and Phytohormone Responsiveness of SUT Genes in Gossypium hirsutum

“…During growth and development, many plants are affected by various environmental conditions, such as exposure to low and high temperatures, high salinity, and drought. Previous studies have indicated that the plant SUT gene family is involved in abiotic and biotic stress responses ( Frost et al, 2012 ; Jian et al, 2016 ; Liao et al, 2016 ; Xu et al, 2018 ). At the same time, multiple putative stress cis -acting regulatory elements were predicted in the promoters of G. hirsutum SUT genes in our study (Figure 5 ).…”

“…StSUT4 expression in wild-type potato plants is prominently induced by treatment with GA 3 and the ethylene precursor ethephon ( Chincinska et al, 2008 ). Furthermore, the BnSUC1-2 gene is dramatically induced by SA, GA, and heat treatments in oilseed rape ( Jian et al, 2016 ). In the present study, we analyzed G. hirsutum SUT gene expression patterns in response to four different abiotic and three phytohormone stress treatments.…”