Genome-wide survey and identification of AP2/ERF genes involved in shoot and leaf development in Liriodendron chinense

Abstract

Background Liriodendron chinense is a distinctive ornamental tree species due to its unique leaves and tulip-like flowers. The discovery of genes involved in leaf development and morphogenesis is critical for uncovering the underlying genetic basis of these traits. Genes in the AP2/ERF family are recognized as plant-specific transcription factors that contribute to plant growth, hormone-induced development, ethylene response factors, and stress responses. Results In this study, we identified 104 putative AP2/ERF genes in the recently released L. chinense genome and transcriptome database. In addition, all 104 genes were grouped into four subfamilies, the AP2, ERF, RAV, and Soloist subfamilies. This classification was further supported by the results of gene structure and conserved motif analyses. Intriguingly, after application of a series test of cluster analysis, three AP2 genes, LcERF 94, LcERF 96, and LcERF 98, were identified as tissue-specific in buds based on the expression profiles of various tissues. These results were further validated via RT-qPCR assays and were highly consistent with the STC analysis. We further investigated the dynamic changes of immature leaves by dissecting fresh shoots into seven discontinuous periods, which were empirically identified as shoot apical meristem (SAM), leaf primordia and tender leaf developmental stages according to the anatomic structure. Subsequently, these three candidates were highly expressed in SAM and leaf primordia but rarely in tender leaves, indicating that they were mainly involved in early leaf development and morphogenesis. Moreover, these three genes displayed nuclear subcellular localizations through the transient transformation of tobacco epidermal cells. Conclusions Overall, we identified 104 AP2/ERF family members at the genome-wide level and discerned three candidate genes that might participate in the development and morphogenesis of the leaf primordium in L. chinense.

Function Analysis of the ERF and DREB Subfamilies in Tomato Fruit Development and Ripening

“…The Ability of ERFs Binding With DNA Was Not Dependent on the AP2 Domain but Required the Motif Near the AP2 Domain Ethylene responsive factor, as a specific transcription factor in plant, is involved in the life cycle of higher plants, including growth, development, abiotic, and biotic stresses Ji et al, 2021;Tian et al, 2021;Xing et al, 2021). However, the ERF family always includes numerous members in many plants (Zhu et al, 2018;Xu et al, 2020;Zong et al, 2021), while their functions are hard to distinguish in different life activities. Although the tomato genome has been sequenced and analyzed three times so far, there are still errors in the sequence analysis of many genes.…”

Overexpression of the LcCUC2-like gene in Arabidopsis thaliana alters the cotyledon morphology and increases rosette leaf number

“…It has been proposed that LcKNOX6 might participate in leaf development in L. chinense ( Ma et al, 2020 ). Also, some LcAP2/ERFs also seems involved in leaf morphogenesis through STC analysis in various tissues and the further anatomical assay of the leaf bud ( Zong et al, 2021 ).…”

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis reveals spinach brassinosteroid-signaling kinase (BSK) gene family functions in temperature stress response

“…The GFP green fluorescent signals in 35S::SoBSK1-GFP and 35S::SoBSK6-GFP transformed tobacco epidermal cells, as well as their merged images with the chlorophyll fluorescence and bright field signals were used to determine the localization of SoBSK1 and SoBSK6 in the cell, respectively. The 35S::GFP was used as a control sample that showed the GFP fluorescence in the whole cell [ 62 ].…”