State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Western China Technology Innovation Center for Grassland Industry, Gansu Province, China; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University; Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Western China Technology Innovation Center for Grassland Industry, Gansu Province, China; Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education; College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 Jun 30;181:644-652. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.03.173. Epub 2021 Mar 30.
In nature, heavy metals significantly affect crop growth and quality. Among various heavy metals, copper (Cu) is both essential and toxic to plants depending on the concentration and complex homeostatic networks. The Cu transporter family (COPT) plays important roles in Cu homeostasis, including absorption, transportation, and growth in plants; however, this gene family is still poorly understood in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). In this study, a total of 12 MsCOPTs were identified and characterized. Based on the conserved motif and phylogenetic analysis, MsCOPTs could be divided into four subgroups (A1, A2, A3, and B). Gene structure, chromosomal location, and synteny analyses of MsCOPTs showed that segmental and tandem duplications likely contributed to their evolution. Tissue-specific expression analysis of MsCOPT genes indicated diverse spatiotemporal expression patterns. Most MsCOPT genes had high transcription levels in roots and nodules, indicating that these genes may play vital roles in the absorption and transport of Cu through root. The complementary heterologous expression function of yeast once again indicates that root-specific COPT can supplement the growth of defective yeast strains on YPEG medium, suggesting that these genes are Cu transporters. In summary, for the first time, our research identified COPT family genes at the whole-genome level to provide guidance for effectively improving the problem of Cu deficiency in the grass-livestock chain and provide theoretical support for the subsequent development of grass and animal husbandry.
在自然界中，重金属会显著影响作物的生长和品质。在各种重金属中，铜（Cu）对植物既必需又有毒，具体取决于浓度和复杂的内稳态网络。铜转运蛋白家族（COPT）在植物的铜稳态中发挥着重要作用，包括吸收、运输和生长；然而，该基因家族在紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）中仍知之甚少。在这项研究中，共鉴定和表征了 12 个 MsCOPT。根据保守基序和系统发育分析，MsCOPT 可分为四个亚组（A1、A2、A3 和 B）。MsCOPT 基因的结构、染色体定位和基因同线性分析表明，片段和串联重复可能有助于它们的进化。MsCOPT 基因的组织特异性表达分析表明，它们具有多样化的时空表达模式。大多数 MsCOPT 基因在根和根瘤中有较高的转录水平，表明这些基因可能在根对 Cu 的吸收和运输中发挥重要作用。酵母互补异源表达功能再次表明，根特异性 COPT 可以补充酵母缺陷菌株在 YPEG 培养基上的生长，这表明这些基因是 Cu 转运蛋白。综上所述，本研究首次在全基因组水平上鉴定了 COPT 家族基因，为有效解决草畜链中 Cu 缺乏问题提供了指导，并为后续草畜业的发展提供了理论支持。
