Zhang Jianhang, Qin Shuwei, Wang Lili, Ma Mengyuan, Yang Wanting, Shen Wenjie, Lu Yaqian, Bao Mingqiang, Zhao Meng, Li Hongbin, Ismayil Asigul, Cao Aiping
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.
Plants (Basel). 2025 Jul 9;14(14):2111. doi: 10.3390/plants14142111.
Safflower ( L.) is a plant in the family of Asteraceae, and the dried tubular flowers are used as medicine, which contain active ingredients such as safflower yellow pigment and safflower glycosides. They play important roles in many fields. NF-Y, as an important transcription factor in plants, regulates a variety of plant life activities. In this study, we identified and analysed 11 gene family members from safflower for the first time. Their core motifs, which are conserved structural domains, gene structures, and cis-acting elements, are described in this study. In addition, there was good collinearity between safflower and other species. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that the CtNF-YA1 and CtNF-YB subfamilies were the core proteins of the interaction network. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) studies showed that the expression level of the gene was regulated by safflower flower colour and safflower flowering period. Subcellular localisation results showed that three CtNF-Y proteins were located in the nucleus, the cellular regulatory centre of the plant. This study will provide valuable insights into the selection of key candidate genes in the network of regulatory mechanisms for the formation of safflower flower colour and flowering time.
红花（Carthamus tinctorius L.）是菊科植物，其干燥管状花入药，含有红花黄色素、红花苷等活性成分，在诸多领域发挥重要作用。NF-Y作为植物中一种重要的转录因子，调控多种植物生命活动。本研究首次从红花中鉴定并分析了11个基因家族成员，描述了其核心基序（即保守结构域）、基因结构和顺式作用元件。此外，红花与其他物种间存在良好的共线性。蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络分析表明，CtNF-YA1和CtNF-YB亚家族是相互作用网络的核心蛋白。实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）研究表明，该基因的表达水平受红花花色和花期调控。亚细胞定位结果显示，3个CtNF-Y蛋白定位于细胞核，即植物的细胞调控中心。本研究将为红花花色和开花时间形成调控机制网络中关键候选基因的筛选提供有价值的见解。
