Search

Ureide permeases (UPSs) mediate the transport of ureides, including allantoin and allantoate, which act as nitrogen-transporting compounds in plants and have recently been found to play a role in cellular signaling. To date, UPSs have not been reported in potato, and their identification is important for further function studies and for understanding molecular mechanisms of plant adverse responses. Based on potato genomic data, we identified 10 StUPS genes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Then, we conducted a comprehensive study of the identified StUPS genes using bioinformatics methods. Genome phylogenetic and genomic localization analyses revealed that StUPSs can be classified into four categories, are highly homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana UPS members, and are distributed on three chromosomes. The six StUPS genes were investigated by RT–qPCR, and the findings indicated that all of these genes are involved in the response to several stresses, including low nitrogen, cold, ABA, salt, H2O2, and drought. This study establishes a strong theoretical framework for investigating the function of potato UPS genes, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of these genes to various environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BTB/POZ (broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-a-brac) family of proteins is widespread in plants and animals and plays important roles in growth, development, metabolism, and environmental responses. There are few reports on BTB family genes in potato. In this study, 34 sequences containing conserved BTB domains were obtained from the potato gene database, and the phylogenetic, physical, and chemical properties, gene structure, conserved motif, domain, and chromosomal localization of the potato BTB protein family were analyzed via bioinformatics methods. In addition, we used qRT-PCR to detect 12 selected StBTB genes. The results confirmed that these genes are involved in cold, ABA, salt, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), drought, and low-nitrogen stress, which is highly important for elucidating BTB family members and studying stress response and tolerance mechanisms. This study provides a theoretical basis for the study of the function and expression of potato BTB and lays a solid foundation for further understanding the molecular mechanism of the potato BTB gene under various environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) play important regulatory roles in plant growth development and abiotic stress tolerance. However, the biological roles of these genes in response to low-nitrate (LN) stress in potato plants have not been determined. Here, we reported that StCIPK23 was expressed mainly in roots and leaves. StCIPK23 was located mainly in the cell membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm. Further research suggested that, compared with wild-type (WT) plants, StCIPK23-overexpressing plants were taller and had significantly greater nitrate and ammonium nitrogen contents under LN stress. StCIPK23 overexpression can increase StAT, StNRT2.1, StNR, StGS1-3, and StGOGAT expression levels in StCIPK23 transgenic seedlings compared to those in WT plants under LN stress. The results of yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation imaging experiments suggested that StCIPK23 could interact with StCBL3. Real-time reverse transcription–PCR revealed the StCIPK23 expression level peaked at 6 h and the StCBL3 expression level peaked at 9 h in the roots under LN stress. In conclusion, we found that StCIPK23 and StCBL3 form a complex to regulate the expression of key genes in the nitrogen metabolism pathway to improve LN tolerance in potato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]