Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of Germin-Like Proteins Reveal Their Role in Regulating Abiotic Stress Response in Potato

Abstract

Germin and germin-like proteins (GLPs) perform a significant role in plants against biotic and abiotic stress. To understand the role of GLPs in potato, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis was performed in the potato genome. This study identified a total of 70 StGLPs genes in the potato genome, distributed among 11 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis exhibited that StGLPs were categorized into six groups with high bootstrap values. StGLPs gene structure and motifs analysis showed a relatively well-maintained intron–exon and motif formation within the cognate group. Additionally, several cis-elements in the promoter regions of GLPs were hormones, and stress-responsive and different families of miRNAs target StGLPs. Gene duplication under selection pressure also exhibited positive and purifying selections in StGLPs. In our results, the StGLP5 gene showed the highest expression in response to salt stress among all expressed StGLPs. Totally 19 StGLPs genes were expressed in response to heat stress. Moreover, three genes, StGLP30, StGLP17, and StGLP14, exhibited a relatively higher expression level in the potato after heat treatment. In total, 22 genes expressed in response to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment indicated that ABA performed an essential role in the plant defense or tolerance mechanism to environmental stress. RNA-Seq data validated by RT-qPCR also confirm that the StGLP5 gene showed maximum expression among selected genes under salt stress. Concisely, our results provide a platform for further functional exploration of the StGLPs against salt and heat stress conditions.

OsSPLs Regulate Male Fertility in Response to Different Temperatures by Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Tapetum PCD in PTGMS Rice

“…SPL transcription factors are a family of proteins with a highly conserved SBP structural domain unique to photosynthetic plants [ 5 ]. Up to now, the SPL gene family members have been identified in various plants, including Arabidopsis , Oryza sativa , Triticum aestivum and strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ) [ 2 , 15 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The number of SPL gene family members varies widely among species [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…The SQUAMOSA-promoter binding, such as the ( SPL ) genes, encode a class of plant specific TFs, and this family contains a highly conserved DNA-binding structural domain consisting of 76 amino acids called the SBP (SQUA promoter-binding proteins) domain. The SPL family plays an important role in the gene network that regulates plant development and defense responses [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of cupin_1 domain-containing members involved in the responses to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and abiotic stress in Brassica napus

“…To date, the GLP genes (encoding single cupin_1 domain protein) have been genome-wide identified in numerous plant species, such as A. thaliana ( Li L. et al, 2016 ), rice ( Li L. et al, 2016 ), soybean ( Lu et al, 2010 ), Vitis vinifera ( Ilyas et al, 2022 ), cucumber ( Liao et al, 2021 ), potato ( Zaynab et al, 2021 ), peanut ( Wang et al, 2013 ) and Physcomitrella patens ( Nakata et al, 2004 ). However, the genes encoding duplicated cupin_1 domain protein were till rarely characterized.…”

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis Related to Low-Temperature Stress of the CmGLP Gene Family in Cucumis melo L.

“…Germin-like proteins (GLP) are homohexameric glycoproteins that belong to the Cupin superfamily and share 30–70% sequence identity with germin protein [ 2 , 4 ]. GLP generally consists of two exons and one intron, encodes a protein consisting of approximately 220 amino acids, and contains a conserved Cupin domain with metal ion binding at the C-terminus [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The functions of GLPs are diverse.…”

“…GLPs are also involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses [ 2 , 17 ]. The results of transcriptome verification show that potato improved tolerance to salt stress by upregulating the expression of StGLP5 [ 7 ]. After knocking out the OsGLP1 , rice became sensitive to UV-B stress and downregulated the expression of some UV-B protective genes, indicating that OsGLP1 is involved in the adaptation of rice to UV-B radiation [ 2 ].…”