College of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China.
Research Centre for Engineering and Technology of Zanthoxylum State Forestry Administration, Yangling, Xianyang, 712100, China.
BMC Plant Biol. 2024 Jun 15;24(1):565. doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05244-9.
AP2/ERF is a large family of plant transcription factor proteins that play essential roles in signal transduction, plant growth and development, and responses to various stresses. The AP2/ERF family has been identified and verified by functional analysis in various plants, but so far there has been no comprehensive study of these factors in Chinese prickly ash. Phylogenetic, motif, and functional analyses combined with transcriptome analysis of Chinese prickly ash fruits at different developmental stages (30, 60, and 90 days after anthesis) were conducted in this study.
The analysis identified 146 ZbAP2/ERF genes that could be classified into 15 subgroups. The motif analysis revealed the presence of different motifs or elements in each group that may explain the functional differences between the groups. ZbERF13.2, ZbRAP2-12, and ZbERF2.1 showed high levels of expression in the early stages of fruit development. ZbRAP2-4, and ZbERF3.1 were significantly expressed at the fruit coloring stage (R2 and G2). ZbERF16 were significantly expressed at fruit ripening and expression level increased as the fruit continued to develop. Relative gene expression levels of 6 representative ZbAP2/ERFs assessed by RT-qPCR agreed with transcriptome analysis results.
These genes identified by screening can be used as candidate genes that affect fruit development. The results of the analysis can help guide future genetic improvement of Chinese prickly ash and enrich our understanding of AP2/ERF transcription factors and their regulatory functions in plants.
AP2/ERF 是一个庞大的植物转录因子蛋白家族，在信号转导、植物生长发育和对各种胁迫的响应中发挥着重要作用。AP2/ERF 家族已在各种植物中通过功能分析得到鉴定和验证，但迄今为止，还没有对花椒中的这些因子进行全面研究。本研究结合转录组分析，对花椒果实不同发育阶段（授粉后 30、60 和 90 天）的 146 个 ZbAP2/ERF 基因进行了系统发育、基序和功能分析。
分析鉴定出 146 个 ZbAP2/ERF 基因，可分为 15 个亚组。基序分析表明，每个亚组中存在不同的基序或元件，这可能解释了亚组之间的功能差异。ZbERF13.2、ZbRAP2-12 和 ZbERF2.1 在果实发育早期表达水平较高。ZbRAP2-4 和 ZbERF3.1 在果实着色期（R2 和 G2）表达水平较高。ZbERF16 在果实成熟时表达水平较高，随着果实的继续发育，表达水平逐渐升高。6 个代表性 ZbAP2/ERFs 的 RT-qPCR 相对基因表达水平与转录组分析结果一致。
通过筛选鉴定出的这些基因可以作为影响果实发育的候选基因。分析结果可以为花椒的遗传改良提供指导，丰富我们对 AP2/ERF 转录因子及其在植物中的调控功能的认识。
