Genome-wide identification of mitogen-activated protein kinase gene family in Gossypium raimondii and the function of their corresponding orthologs in tetraploid cultivated cotton

Abstract

BackgroundMitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play a crucial role in plant growth and development as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. Knowledge about the MAPK gene family in cotton is limited, and systematic investigation of MAPK family proteins has not been reported.ResultsBy performing a bioinformatics homology search, we identified 28 putative MAPK genes in the Gossypium raimondii genome. These MAPK members were anchored onto 11 chromosomes in G. raimondii, with uneven distribution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the MAPK candidates could be classified into the four known A, B, C and D groups, with more MAPKs containing the TEY phosphorylation site (18 members) than the TDY motif (10 members). Furthermore, 21 cDNA sequences of MAPKs with complete open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in G. hirsutum via PCR-based approaches, including 13 novel MAPKs and eight with homologs reported previously in tetraploid cotton. The expression patterns of 23 MAPK genes reveal their important roles in diverse functions in cotton, in both various developmental stages of vegetative and reproductive growth and in the stress response. Using a reverse genetics approach based on tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing (TRV-VIGS), we further verified that MPK9, MPK13 and MPK25 confer resistance to defoliating isolates of Verticillium dahliae in cotton. Silencing of MPK9, MPK13 and MPK25 can significantly enhance cotton susceptibility to this pathogen.ConclusionsThis study presents a comprehensive identification of 28 mitogen-activated protein kinase genes in G. raimondii. Their phylogenetic relationships, transcript expression patterns and responses to various stressors were verified. This study provides the first systematic analysis of MAPKs in cotton, improving our understanding of defense responses in general and laying the foundation for future crop improvement using MAPKs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-014-0345-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Investigation of the ASR family in foxtail millet and the role of ASR1 in drought/oxidative stress tolerance

“…However, studies in crop species were still limited (Alam et al 2015;Chen et al 2015;Yan et al 2014;Zhang et al 2014b). Drought-imposed osmotic stress elicits ROS production (Krasensky and Jonak 2012).…”

MAP Kinase PrMPK9-1 Contributes to the Self-Incompatibility Response

“…More recently, it was shown that BWMK1 is activated by fungal elicitors, hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid (Cheong et al, 2003). Other studies in cotton (Gossypium raimondii) showed that MPK9 (together with MPK13 and MPK25) confer resistance to Verticillium dahlia, which causes defoliation (Zhang et al, 2014). These studies provide evidence that these TDY MAPKs play a role in signaling to defense signaling.…”

“…This expression pattern is consistent with the known function of the p56-MAPK involvement in the SI response in mature pollen. We examined whether PrMPK9-1 was up-regulated after SI induction, as several MAPKs are up-regulated after stimulation, particularly stress treatments (Zhang et al, 2014). RT-PCR expression analysis of PrMPK9-1 revealed increased expression 10 min after SI induction in incompatible pollen specifically; compatible pollen challenged with the same PrsS did not show increased expression, nor did other control pollen samples ( Fig.…”

“…The group B MAPKs (Arabidopsis MPK4 and MPK11) also have functions implicated in pathogen defense and stress responses and also play an essential role in cell division (for review, see Meng and Zhang, 2013). The functions of MAPKs in groups C and D are currently less well established (Meng and Zhang, 2013;Zhang et al, 2014).…”

Peer Review #1 of "Comprehensive analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in chrysanthemum (v0.1)"

“…According to the conserved S/Txxxxx-S/T sequence and the D site, these motifs can be divided into Groups A, B, C and D (Kazuya et al 2002). The MAPK protein family is a promiscuous family of serine/threonine kinases that phosphorylates a variety of substrates, including transcription factors, protein kinases and cytoskeleton-related proteins (Zhang et al 2014).…”