Identification of the ALMT gene family in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and analysis of the function of StALMT6/ 10 in response to aluminum toxicity

Feng Zhang; Sixia Jiang; Qiong Li; Zhiying Song; Ying Yang; Shirui Yu; Zongyue Nie; Moli Chu; Yanlin An

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1274260

Identification of the ALMT gene family in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and analysis of the function of StALMT6/ 10 in response to aluminum toxicity

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Nov 20:14:1274260. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1274260. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Feng Zhang¹, Sixia Jiang¹, Qiong Li², Zhiying Song¹, Ying Yang¹, Shirui Yu¹, Zongyue Nie³, Moli Chu⁴, Yanlin An¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science and Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, Guizhou, China.
² Department of Brewing Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, Guizhou, China.
³ Agriculture Science Institute of Bijie, Bijie, Guizhou, China.
⁴ Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources/College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, China.

Abstract

Introduction: Aluminum (Al)-activated malate transporters (ALMTs) play an important role in the response to Al toxicity, maintenance of ion homeostasis balance, mineral nutrient distribution, and fruit quality development in plants. However, the function of the StALMT gene family in potato remains unknown.

Methods and results: In this study, 14 StALMT genes were identified from the potato genome, unevenly distributed on seven different chromosomes. Collinearity and synteny analyses of ALMT genes showed that potatoes had 6 and 22 orthologous gene pairs with Arabidopsis and tomatoes, respectively, and more than one syntenic gene pair was identified for some StALMT gene family members. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed differential expression levels of StALMT gene family members in different tissues of the potato. Interestingly, StALMT1, StALMT6, StALMT8, StALMT10, and StALMT12 had higher expression in the root of the potato cultivar Qingshu No. 9. After being subjected to Al³⁺ stress for 24 h, the expression of StALMT6 and StALMT10 in roots was evidently increased, displaying their decisive role in Al³⁺ toxicity.

Discussion: In addition, overexpression of StALMT6 and StALMT10 in Arabidopsis enhanced its tolerance to Al toxicity. These results indicate that StALMT6 and StALMT10 impart Al³⁺ resistance in the potato, establishing the foundation for further studies of the biological functions of these genes.

Keywords: Al toxicity; StALMT family; StALMT10; StALMT6; potato.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32160441) and Zunyi Technology Bureau, Moutai Institute Joint Science and Technology Research and Development Project (ZSKHHZ [2021] No.332 and ZSKHHZ [2022] No.166).