Genome-Wide Analysis of the BAHD Family in Welsh Onion and CER2-LIKEs Involved in Wax Metabolism

Lecheng Liu; Huanhuan Xu; Wanyue Zhang; Jiayi Xing; Mingzhao Zhu; Yuchen Zhang; Yongqin Wang

doi:10.3390/genes14061286

Genome-Wide Analysis of the BAHD Family in Welsh Onion and CER2-LIKEs Involved in Wax Metabolism

Genes (Basel). 2023 Jun 18;14(6):1286. doi: 10.3390/genes14061286.

Authors

Lecheng Liu¹, Huanhuan Xu^{1

2}, Wanyue Zhang², Jiayi Xing^{2

3}, Mingzhao Zhu², Yuchen Zhang^{1

2}, Yongqin Wang²

Affiliations

¹ College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.
² Beijing Vegetable Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (North China), Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing Key Laboratory of Vegetable Germplasm Improvement, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables, Beijing 100097, China.
³ Department of Horticulture, Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China.

Abstract

BAHD acyltransferases (BAHDs), especially those present in plant epidermal wax metabolism, are crucial for environmental adaptation. Epidermal waxes primarily comprise very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and their derivatives, serving as significant components of aboveground plant organs. These waxes play an essential role in resisting biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified the BAHD family in Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum). Our analysis revealed the presence of AfBAHDs in all chromosomes, with a distinct concentration in Chr3. Furthermore, the cis-acting elements of AfBAHDs were associated with abiotic/biotic stress, hormones, and light. The motif of Welsh onion BAHDs indicated the presence of a specific BAHDs motif. We also established the phylogenetic relationships of AfBAHDs, identifying three homologous genes of CER2. Subsequently, we characterized the expression of AfCER2-LIKEs in a Welsh onion mutant deficient in wax and found that AfCER2-LIKE1 plays a critical role in leaf wax metabolism, while all AfCER2-LIKEs respond to abiotic stress. Our findings provide new insights into the BAHD family and lay a foundation for future studies on the regulation of wax metabolism in Welsh onion.

Keywords: BAHD acyltransferase; CER2-LIKEs; abiotic stress; epicuticular wax; genes family.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Fatty Acids* / metabolism
Onions* / genetics
Phylogeny
Plant Epidermis / genetics
Plant Epidermis / metabolism
Waxes / metabolism

Substances

bis(2-aminohexyl)disulfide
Fatty Acids
Waxes

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31972409) and Science Innovation of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (Grant No. KJCX20230123).