College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
College of Biological Industry, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
BMC Plant Biol. 2019 Feb 20;19(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s12870-019-1681-6.
AP2/ERF transcription factors perform indispensable functions in various biological processes, such as plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stresses responses. The AP2/ERF transcription factor family has been identified in many plants, and several AP2/ERF transcription factors from Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) have been functionally characterized. However, little research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF genes of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyum tataricum), which is an important edible and medicinal crop. The recently published whole genome sequence of tartary buckwheat allowed us to study the tissue and expression profiles of AP2/ERF genes in tartary buckwheat on a genome-wide basis.
In this study, 134 AP2/ERF genes of tartary buckwheat (FtAP2/ERF) were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the FtAP2/ERF genes. According to the number conserved domains and gene structure, the AP2/ERF genes were divided into three subfamilies by phylogenetic tree analysis, namely, AP2 (15 members), ERF (116 members) and RAV (3 members). A total of 10 motifs were detected in tartary buckwheat AP2/ERF genes, and some of the unique motifs were found to be important for the function of AP2/ERF genes.
A comprehensive analysis of AP2/ERF gene expression patterns in different tissues and fruit development stages by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that they played an important role in the growth and development of tartary buckwheat, and genes that might regulate flower and fruit development were preliminarily identified. This systematic analysis establishes a foundation for further studies of the functional characteristics of FtAP2/ERF genes and improvement of tartary buckwheat crops.
AP2/ERF 转录因子在各种生物过程中发挥着不可或缺的作用,例如植物生长、发育、生物和非生物胁迫反应。AP2/ERF 转录因子家族已在许多植物中被鉴定出来,并且已经对来自拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)的几个 AP2/ERF 转录因子进行了功能表征。然而,对于重要的食用和药用作物苦荞(Fagopyrum tataricum)的 AP2/ERF 基因的研究甚少。苦荞最近公布的全基因组序列使我们能够在全基因组范围内研究苦荞中 AP2/ERF 基因的组织和表达谱。
在这项研究中,根据苦荞 FtAP2/ERF 基因的染色体分布,鉴定并重新命名了 134 个苦荞 AP2/ERF 基因(FtAP2/ERF)。根据保守结构域和基因结构的数量,通过系统发育树分析将 AP2/ERF 基因分为三个亚家族,即 AP2(15 个成员)、ERF(116 个成员)和 RAV(3 个成员)。在苦荞 AP2/ERF 基因中总共检测到 10 个基序,其中一些独特的基序被发现对 AP2/ERF 基因的功能很重要。
通过定量实时 PCR(qRT-PCR)对不同组织和果实发育阶段的 AP2/ERF 基因表达模式进行综合分析表明,它们在苦荞的生长和发育中发挥着重要作用,并初步鉴定了可能调节花和果实发育的基因。这项系统分析为进一步研究 FtAP2/ERF 基因的功能特征和苦荞作物的改良奠定了基础。