Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are widely distributed in higher plants and play crucial roles in regulating plant growth and development processes and resisting abiotic stress. Cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important vegetable crop worldwide; however, its growth, development, yield, and quality are currently severely constrained by abiotic stressors. In contrast, wild tomato species are more tolerant to abiotic stress and can grow normally in extreme environments. The main objective of this study was to identify, characterize, and perform gene expression analysis of LEA protein families from cultivated and wild tomato species to mine candidate genes and determine their potential role in abiotic stress tolerance in tomatoes.
RESULTS: Total 60, 69, 65, and 60 LEA genes were identified in S. lycopersicum, Solanum pimpinellifolium, Solanum pennellii, and Solanum lycopersicoides, respectively. Characterization results showed that these genes could be divided into eight clusters, with the LEA_2 cluster having the most members. Most LEA genes had few introns and were non-randomly distributed on chromosomes; the promoter regions contained numerous cis-acting regulatory elements related to abiotic stress tolerance and phytohormone responses. Evolutionary analysis showed that LEA genes were highly conserved and that the segmental duplication event played an important role in evolution of the LEA gene family. Transcription and expression pattern analyses revealed different regulatory patterns of LEA genes between cultivated and wild tomato species under normal conditions. Certain S. lycopersicum LEA (SlLEA) genes showed similar expression patterns and played specific roles under different abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. Gene ontology and protein interaction analyses showed that most LEA genes acted in response to abiotic stimuli and water deficit. Five SlLEA proteins were found to interact with 11 S. lycopersicum WRKY proteins involved in development or resistance to stress. Virus-induced gene silencing of SlLEA6 affected the antioxidant and reactive oxygen species defense systems, increased the degree of cellular damage, and reduced drought resistance in S. lycopersicum.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide comprehensive information on LEA proteins in cultivated and wild tomato species and their possible functions under different abiotic and phytohormone stresses. The study systematically broadens our current understanding of LEA proteins and candidate genes and provides a theoretical basis for future functional studies aimed at improving stress resistance in tomato.
RESULTS: Total 60, 69, 65, and 60 LEA genes were identified in S. lycopersicum, Solanum pimpinellifolium, Solanum pennellii, and Solanum lycopersicoides, respectively. Characterization results showed that these genes could be divided into eight clusters, with the LEA_2 cluster having the most members. Most LEA genes had few introns and were non-randomly distributed on chromosomes; the promoter regions contained numerous cis-acting regulatory elements related to abiotic stress tolerance and phytohormone responses. Evolutionary analysis showed that LEA genes were highly conserved and that the segmental duplication event played an important role in evolution of the LEA gene family. Transcription and expression pattern analyses revealed different regulatory patterns of LEA genes between cultivated and wild tomato species under normal conditions. Certain S. lycopersicum LEA (SlLEA) genes showed similar expression patterns and played specific roles under different abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. Gene ontology and protein interaction analyses showed that most LEA genes acted in response to abiotic stimuli and water deficit. Five SlLEA proteins were found to interact with 11 S. lycopersicum WRKY proteins involved in development or resistance to stress. Virus-induced gene silencing of SlLEA6 affected the antioxidant and reactive oxygen species defense systems, increased the degree of cellular damage, and reduced drought resistance in S. lycopersicum.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide comprehensive information on LEA proteins in cultivated and wild tomato species and their possible functions under different abiotic and phytohormone stresses. The study systematically broadens our current understanding of LEA proteins and candidate genes and provides a theoretical basis for future functional studies aimed at improving stress resistance in tomato.
摘要：
背景：晚期胚胎发生丰富（LEA）蛋白在高等植物中广泛分布，在调节植物的生长发育过程和抵抗非生物胁迫中起着至关重要的作用。栽培番茄（Solanumlycopersicum）是全球重要的蔬菜作物；然而，它的成长,发展,产量，和质量目前受到非生物胁迫的严重制约。相比之下,野生番茄对非生物胁迫的耐受性更强，可以在极端环境中正常生长。这项研究的主要目的是确定，表征，并对栽培和野生番茄物种的LEA蛋白家族进行基因表达分析，以挖掘候选基因，并确定其在番茄非生物胁迫耐受性中的潜在作用。
结果：总共60、69、65和60个LEA基因在番茄中被鉴定，龙葵，茄属植物,和番茄红素,分别。表征结果表明，这些基因可以分为八个簇，LEA_2集群具有最多的成员。大多数LEA基因的内含子很少，并且在染色体上非随机分布；启动子区域包含许多与非生物胁迫耐受性和植物激素反应相关的顺式作用调节元件。进化分析表明，LEA基因高度保守，分段复制事件在LEA基因家族的进化中起着重要作用。转录和表达模式分析揭示了正常条件下栽培和野生番茄之间LEA基因的不同调控模式。某些lycopersicumLEA（SlLEA）基因显示出相似的表达模式，并在不同的非生物胁迫和植物激素处理下发挥特定的作用。基因本体论和蛋白质相互作用分析表明，大多数LEA基因对非生物刺激和缺水起反应。发现5种SlLEA蛋白与11种参与发育或对胁迫的抗性的番茄红素WRKY蛋白相互作用。病毒诱导的SlLEA6基因沉默影响抗氧化和活性氧防御系统,增加了细胞损伤的程度，并降低了番茄的抗旱性。
结论：这些发现提供了有关栽培和野生番茄中LEA蛋白及其在不同非生物和植物激素胁迫下的可能功能的全面信息。该研究系统地拓宽了我们目前对LEA蛋白和候选基因的理解，为未来旨在提高番茄抗逆性的功能研究提供了理论基础。
结果：总共60、69、65和60个LEA基因在番茄中被鉴定，龙葵，茄属植物,和番茄红素,分别。表征结果表明，这些基因可以分为八个簇，LEA_2集群具有最多的成员。大多数LEA基因的内含子很少，并且在染色体上非随机分布；启动子区域包含许多与非生物胁迫耐受性和植物激素反应相关的顺式作用调节元件。进化分析表明，LEA基因高度保守，分段复制事件在LEA基因家族的进化中起着重要作用。转录和表达模式分析揭示了正常条件下栽培和野生番茄之间LEA基因的不同调控模式。某些lycopersicumLEA（SlLEA）基因显示出相似的表达模式，并在不同的非生物胁迫和植物激素处理下发挥特定的作用。基因本体论和蛋白质相互作用分析表明，大多数LEA基因对非生物刺激和缺水起反应。发现5种SlLEA蛋白与11种参与发育或对胁迫的抗性的番茄红素WRKY蛋白相互作用。病毒诱导的SlLEA6基因沉默影响抗氧化和活性氧防御系统,增加了细胞损伤的程度，并降低了番茄的抗旱性。
结论：这些发现提供了有关栽培和野生番茄中LEA蛋白及其在不同非生物和植物激素胁迫下的可能功能的全面信息。该研究系统地拓宽了我们目前对LEA蛋白和候选基因的理解，为未来旨在提高番茄抗逆性的功能研究提供了理论基础。
