Genome-wide identification of and functional insights into the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) gene family in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are involved in the responses and adaptation of plants to various abiotic stresses, including dehydration, salinity, high temperature, and cold. Here, we report the first comprehensive survey of the LEA gene family in “Chinese Spring” wheat (Triticum aestivum). A total of 179 TaLEA genes were identified in T. aestivum and classified into eight groups. All TaLEA genes harbored the LEA conserved motif and had few introns. TaLEA genes belonging to the same group exhibited similar gene structures and chromosomal locations. Our results revealed that most TaLEA genes contained abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive elements (ABREs) and various cis-acting elements associated with the stress response in the promoter region and were induced under ABA and abiotic stress treatments. In addition, 8 genes representing each group were introduced into E. coli and yeast to investigate the protective function of TaLEAs under heat and salt stress. TaLEAs enhanced the tolerance of E. coli and yeast to salt and heat, indicating that these proteins have protective functions in host cells under stress conditions. These results increase our understanding of LEA genes and provide robust candidate genes for future functional investigations aimed at improving the stress tolerance of wheat.

Zinc Finger-Homeodomain Transcriptional Factors (ZF-HDs) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Identification, Evolution, Expression Analysis and Response to Abiotic Stresses

“…Wheat seedlings were grown in a hydroponic culture for two weeks and root, stem and leaf tissues of the wheat seedlings were collected. For the abiotic stress treatment, seedlings were exposed to 20% PEG 6000 ( w / v ), high salinity (300 mM NaCl), high temperature (42 °C) and cold (4 °C) conditions as described previously [ 40 ]. In each treatment, the leaf tissues were collected every 12 h for 36 h. All samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80 °C.…”

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) and Abscisic Acid-, Stress-, and Ripening-Induced (ASR) Gene Superfamily from Canavalia rosea and Their Roles in Salinity/Alkaline and Drought Tolerance

“…Abiotic stresses, such as high temperature, high salinity/alkaline, extreme aridity, and cold or freezing, influence plant growth and often cause deficit in cellular water, thereby causing a series of changes, including biochemical alterations in gene expression, osmolytes, and the accumulation of specific proteins involved in the stress response. Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEAs) and abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced proteins (ASRs) are supposed to play crucial roles in the processes of drought resistance or other water-deficit stresses [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. LEA genes have been characterized in plants ranging from algae to higher plants, as well as in invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria [ 6 ].…”

Cross-Reactivity and Sequence Homology Between Alpha-Synuclein and Food Products: A Step Further for Parkinson’s Disease Synucleinopathy

“…They concluded that “what determines the organ specificity of the autoimmune-inflammatory process may depend on food antigens resembling proteins of the organ being attacked. This applies to the brain and neuroinflammatory diseases, as to other organs and other diseases.” For example, the late-embryo-abundant group III protein family that is found in plants and seeds such as soybean, wheat, tomato, peanuts and in crustaceans as well, share the epitopes of 11 amino acid residues with α-synuclein (aSN) [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Furthermore, vertebrates, especially fish, fowl and mammals, are the main source of aSN, which after their consumption, can potentially pass the enteric barrier and reach the human brain.…”