Peng Kui, Wang Wenbin, Dai Zhuoru, Shang Meiqi, Zhai Hong, Gao Shaopei, Zhao Ning, Liu Qingchang, He Shaozhen, Zhang Huan
Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE)/Key Laboratory of Sweet Potato Biology and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement/Laboratory of Crop Heterosis & Utilization and Joint Laboratory for International Cooperation in Crop Molecular Breeding, Ministry of Education, College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Aug 29;26(17):8435. doi: 10.3390/ijms26178435.
NIN-like proteins (NLPs) are conserved, plant-specific transcription factors that play crucial roles in the nitrate signaling response, plant growth and development, and abiotic stress responses. However, their functions have not been explored in sweet potato. In this study, we identified 7 in cultivated hexaploid sweet potato (, 2n = 6x = 90), 9 in the diploid relative (2n = 2x = 30), and 12 in (2n = 2x = 30) via genome structure analysis and phylogenetic characterization, respectively. The protein physiological properties, chromosome localization, phylogenetic relationships, syntenic analysis maps, gene structure, promoter -acting regulatory elements, and protein interaction networks were systematically investigated to explore the possible roles of homologous in the nitrate signaling response, growth and development, and abiotic stress responses in sweet potato. The expression profiles of the identified in different tissues and treatments revealed tissue specificity and various expression patterns in sweet potato and its two diploid relatives, supporting differences in the evolutionary trajectories of the hexaploid sweet potato. These results are a critical first step in understanding the functions of sweet potato and offer more candidate genes for improving nitrogen use efficiency and increasing yield in cultivated sweet potato.
NIN样蛋白（NLPs）是保守的、植物特有的转录因子，在硝酸盐信号响应、植物生长发育和非生物胁迫响应中发挥关键作用。然而，它们在甘薯中的功能尚未得到研究。在本研究中，我们分别通过基因组结构分析和系统发育特征鉴定，在栽培六倍体甘薯（Ipomoea batatas，2n = 6x = 90）中鉴定出7个NLPs，在二倍体近缘种I. trifida（2n = 2x = 30）中鉴定出9个NLPs，在I. nil（2n = 2x = 30）中鉴定出12个NLPs。系统地研究了这些蛋白的生理特性、染色体定位、系统发育关系、共线性分析图谱、基因结构、启动子作用调控元件和蛋白相互作用网络，以探索同源NLPs在甘薯硝酸盐信号响应、生长发育和非生物胁迫响应中的可能作用。所鉴定的NLPs在不同组织和处理中的表达谱揭示了甘薯及其两个二倍体近缘种中的组织特异性和多种表达模式，支持了六倍体甘薯进化轨迹的差异。这些结果是理解甘薯NLPs功能的关键第一步，并为提高栽培甘薯的氮利用效率和增加产量提供了更多候选基因。
