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Evolution, expression and functional analysis of cultivated allotetraploid cotton DIR genes

Authors :
Zhengwen Liu
Xingfen Wang
Zhengwen Sun
Yan Zhang
Chengsheng Meng
Bin Chen
Guoning Wang
Huifeng Ke
Jinhua Wu
Yuanyuan Yan
Liqiang Wu
Zhikun Li
Jun Yang
Guiyin Zhang
Zhiying Ma
Source :
BMC Plant Biology, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-16 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
BMC, 2021.

Abstract

Abstract Background Dirigent (DIR) proteins mediate regioselectivity and stereoselectivity during lignan biosynthesis and are also involved in lignin, gossypol and pterocarpan biosynthesis. This gene family plays a vital role in enhancing stress resistance and in secondary cell-wall development, but systematical understanding is lacking in cotton. Results In this study, 107 GbDIRs and 107 GhDIRs were identified in Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum, respectively. Most of these genes have a classical gene structure without intron and encode proteins containing a signal peptide. Phylogenetic analysis showed that cotton DIR genes were classified into four distinct subfamilies (a, b/d, e, and f). Of these groups, DIR-a and DIR-e were evolutionarily conserved, and segmental and tandem duplications contributed equally to their formation. In contrast, DIR-b/d mainly expanded by recent tandem duplications, accompanying with a number of gene clusters. With the rapid evolution, DIR-b/d-III was a Gossypium-specific clade involved in atropselective synthesis of gossypol. RNA-seq data highlighted GhDIRs in response to Verticillium dahliae infection and suggested that DIR gene family could confer Verticillium wilt resistance. We also identified candidate DIR genes related to fiber development in G. barbadense and G. hirsutum and revealed their differential expression. To further determine the involvement of DIR genes in fiber development, we overexpressed a fiber length-related gene GbDIR78 in Arabidopsis and validated its function in trichomes and hypocotyls. Conclusions These findings contribute novel insights towards the evolution of DIR gene family and provide valuable information for further understanding the roles of DIR genes in cotton fiber development as well as in stress responses.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712229
Volume :
21
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Plant Biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.49a01c5893e3420da0d7997f6c5f7b2e
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-02859-0