Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China; Henan Institute of Grains and Cotton, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Key Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of Cotton, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan, China.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2022 Jan 1;194:84-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.127. Epub 2021 Nov 28.
Rapid Alkalinization Factors (RALFs) are plant-secreted, cysteine-rich polypeptides which are known to play essential roles in plant developmental processes and in several defense mechanisms. So far, RALF polypeptides have not been investigated in the Gossypium genus. In this study, 42, 38, 104 and 120 RALFs were identified from diploid G. arboreum and G. raimondi and tetraploid G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively. These were further divided into four groups. Protein characteristics, sequence alignment, gene structure, conserved motifs, chromosomal location and cis-element identification were comprehensively analyzed. Whole genome duplication (WGD) /segmental duplication may be the reason why the number of RALF genes doubled in tetraploid Gossypium species. Expression patterns analysis showed that GhRALFs had different transcript accumulation patterns in the tested tissues and were differentially expressed in response to various abiotic stresses. Furthermore, GhRALF41-3 over-expressing (OE) plants showed reduction in root length and developed later with short stems and small rosettes than that of the wild type. The GhRALF14-8 and GhRALF27-8 OE plants, especially the latter, showed increase in seed abortion. Both transgenic Arabidopsis and VIGS cotton demonstrate that three GhRALFs are negative regulators in response to salt stress. Our systematic analyses provided insights into the characterization of RALF genes in Gossypium, which forms genetic basis for further exploration in their potential applications in cotton production.
快速碱化因子（RALFs）是植物分泌的富含半胱氨酸的多肽，已知其在植物发育过程中和几种防御机制中发挥着重要作用。到目前为止，尚未在棉属植物中研究 RALF 多肽。在这项研究中，从二倍体 G. arboreum 和 G. raimondi 以及四倍体 G. hirsutum 和 G. barbadense 中分别鉴定出 42、38、104 和 120 个 RALF。这些进一步分为四组。综合分析了蛋白质特性、序列比对、基因结构、保守基序、染色体定位和顺式元件鉴定。全基因组复制（WGD）/片段复制可能是四倍体棉属 RALF 基因数量增加一倍的原因。表达模式分析表明，GhRALFs 在测试的组织中具有不同的转录积累模式，并对各种非生物胁迫表现出不同的表达。此外，GhRALF41-3 过表达（OE）植物的根长变短，茎变短，生长后期的莲座叶较小，与野生型相比。GhRALF14-8 和 GhRALF27-8 OE 植物，尤其是后者，表现出种子败育增加。转基因拟南芥和 VIGS 棉花都表明三种 GhRALFs 是响应盐胁迫的负调控因子。我们的系统分析为棉属 RALF 基因的特征提供了深入的了解，为进一步探索其在棉花生产中的潜在应用奠定了遗传基础。
