Genome-Wide Identification of the Vacuolar H-ATPase Gene Family in Five Rosaceae Species and Expression Analysis in Pear ().

Vacuolar H-ATPases (V-ATPase) are multi-subunit complexes that function as ATP hydrolysis-driven proton pumps. They play pivotal roles in physiological processes, such as development, metabolism, stress, and growth. However, there have been very few studies on the characterisation of V-ATPase (VHA) genes in Rosaceae species. Therefore, in the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis and identified gene family members in five Rosaceae species (, , , and ). A total of 159 genes were identified, and were classified into 13 subfamilies according to the phylogenetic analysis. The structure of VHA proteins revealed high similarity among different genes within the same subgroup. Gene duplication event analysis revealed that whole-genome duplications represented the major pathway for expansion of the genes ( genes). The tissue-specific expression analysis of the pear showed that 36 genes were expressed in major tissues. Seven genes were significantly downregulated when the pollen tube growth stopped. Moreover, many genes were differentially expressed during fruit development and storage, suggesting that genes play specific roles in development and senescence. The present study provides fundamental information for further elucidating the potential roles of genes during development and senescence.