Li Ling, Cao Linggai, Li Jintao, Zhang Zhiqiang, Liu Jie, Ren Zhongying, Zhang Jie, Wang Rengang, Miao Yangfan, Yu Shizhou, Li Wei
Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
Molecular Genetics Key Laboratory of China Tobacco, Guizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Feb 5;16:1543437. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1543437. eCollection 2025.
Wall-associated kinases (WAKs) are pivotal in linking plant cell walls to intracellular signaling networks, thereby playing essential roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses.
The bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify WAK genes in tobacco. The expression levels of genes were assessed by qRT-PCR. The subcellular localization of WAK proteins was observed in tobacco cells and Arabidopsis protoplasts. Kinase activity of the WAK proteins was evaluated through assays.
We conducted a comprehensive genome-wide identification and analysis of the gene family in tobacco (). A total of 44 genes were identified in the tobacco genome, which were further classified into three distinct groups. Phylogenetic analysis comparing tobacco WAKs (NtWAKs) with Arabidopsis WAKs (AtWAKs) revealed species-specific expansion of these genes. The WAK proteins within each group displayed similar gene structures and conserved motif distributions. Promoter region analysis indicated that cis-elements of genes are primarily involved in regulating plant growth and development, phytohormone signaling, and stress responses. Expression profiling under NaCl, PEG, and ABA treatments suggested that certain genes may play key roles in modulating responses to abiotic stress. Three-dimensional structural predictions and subcellular localization analysis showed that NtWAK proteins from the three subgroups exhibit high cytoplasmic similarity and are primarily located to the plasma membrane. Kinase activity assay confirmed that they possess phosphorylation activity.
This study represents the first genome-wide analysis of the WAK gene family in , laying the groundwork for future functional investigations.
细胞壁相关激酶（WAKs）在将植物细胞壁与细胞内信号网络连接起来方面起着关键作用，从而在植物生长、发育和应激反应中发挥重要作用。
采用生物信息学分析方法在烟草中鉴定WAK基因。通过qRT-PCR评估基因的表达水平。在烟草细胞和拟南芥原生质体中观察WAK蛋白的亚细胞定位。通过实验评估WAK蛋白的激酶活性。
我们对烟草（ ）中的 基因家族进行了全面的全基因组鉴定和分析。在烟草基因组中总共鉴定出44个 基因，这些基因进一步分为三个不同的组。将烟草WAKs（NtWAKs）与拟南芥WAKs（AtWAKs）进行系统发育分析，揭示了这些基因的物种特异性扩增。每组中的WAK蛋白显示出相似的基因结构和保守基序分布。启动子区域分析表明， 基因的顺式元件主要参与调节植物生长发育、植物激素信号传导和应激反应。在NaCl、PEG和ABA处理下的表达谱分析表明，某些 基因可能在调节对非生物胁迫的反应中起关键作用。三维结构预测和亚细胞定位分析表明，来自三个亚组的NtWAK蛋白在细胞质中具有高度相似性，并且主要定位于质膜。激酶活性测定证实它们具有磷酸化活性。
本研究是对 中WAK基因家族的首次全基因组分析，为未来的功能研究奠定了基础。
