Pang Bo, Chen Jialin, Luo Ping, Zhang Ru, Li Jing, Liang Weiwei, Gao Wenwei, Li Shengmei
College of Agriculture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830001, China; College of Agriculture, Liaodong University, Dandong 118000, China.
College of Biotechnology, Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational and Technical University, Changji 831100, China.
Plant Sci. 2025 Jul 29;360:112689. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112689.
Translationally controlled tumor proteins (TCTPs) are highly conserved proteins found in virtually all eukaryotes, and their expression is intricately linked with numerous biochemical processes and cellular activities. However, intriguingly, within the realm of key cash crops, investigations of the TCTP gene in cotton are relatively limited. This study sought to elucidate the evolutionary relationships and structural functions of the TCTP gene in cotton with a whole-genome analysis approach. Within Gossypium arboreum (G. arboreum), Gossypium raimondii (G. raimondii), Gossypium barbadense (G. barbadense), and Gossypium hirsutum (G. hirsutum), we found three, three, six, and five TCTP domain sequences, respectively. A detailed examination of their genetic architecture and evolutionary history revealed a strikingly conserved progression among TCTP family members. Notably, segmental duplications emerged as a pivotal mechanism in the expansion of the cotton TCTP family, with virtually no evidence of tandem duplications. The assessment of the cis-acting elements within the TCTP gene promoters suggested that these genes might be influenced by plant hormones and various environmental stresses. By applying virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and RNA-seq, we determined that GhTCTP5 plays a critical role. Specifically, the response of cotton to salt stress is most likely regulated by its participation in the phenylpropanoid metabolic synthesis pathway, which adds to our understanding of its functional complexity. These results provide insights for understanding the evolution of TCTP genes in cotton, thus establishing a robust foundation for the subsequent exploitation of these genes to increase crop salt tolerance.
翻译调控肿瘤蛋白（TCTPs）是几乎在所有真核生物中都能发现的高度保守的蛋白质，其表达与众多生化过程和细胞活动有着复杂的联系。然而，有趣的是，在主要经济作物领域，棉花中TCTP基因的研究相对有限。本研究旨在通过全基因组分析方法阐明棉花中TCTP基因的进化关系和结构功能。在亚洲棉（G. arboreum）、雷蒙德氏棉（G. raimondii）、海岛棉（G. barbadense）和陆地棉（G. hirsutum）中，我们分别发现了3个、3个、6个和5个TCTP结构域序列。对其遗传结构和进化历史的详细研究揭示了TCTP家族成员之间惊人的保守进化过程。值得注意的是，片段重复是棉花TCTP家族扩张的关键机制，几乎没有串联重复的证据。对TCTP基因启动子内顺式作用元件的评估表明，这些基因可能受植物激素和各种环境胁迫的影响。通过应用病毒诱导基因沉默（VIGS）和RNA测序，我们确定GhTCTP5起着关键作用。具体而言，棉花对盐胁迫的反应很可能是通过其参与苯丙烷代谢合成途径来调节的，这增加了我们对其功能复杂性的理解。这些结果为理解棉花中TCTP基因的进化提供了见解，从而为后续利用这些基因提高作物耐盐性奠定了坚实基础。
