The NtSPL Gene Family in Nicotiana tabacum: Genome-Wide Investigation and Expression Analysis in Response to Cadmium Stress

Linshen He; Xiang Peng; Hanping Cao; Kunjian Yang; Lien Xiang; Rui Li; Fangyuan Zhang; Wanhong Liu

doi:10.3390/genes14010183

The NtSPL Gene Family in Nicotiana tabacum: Genome-Wide Investigation and Expression Analysis in Response to Cadmium Stress

Genes (Basel). 2023 Jan 10;14(1):183. doi: 10.3390/genes14010183.

Authors

Linshen He¹, Xiang Peng¹, Hanping Cao¹, Kunjian Yang¹, Lien Xiang², Rui Li¹, Fangyuan Zhang³, Wanhong Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China.
² College of Environmental Science & Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China.
³ School of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.

Abstract

The SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL)SPL family genes play an important role in regulating plant growth and development, synthesis of secondary metabolites, and resistance to stress. Understanding of the role of the SPL family in tobacco is still limited. In this study, 42 NtSPL genes were identified from the genome of the tobacco variety TN90. According to the results of the conserved motif and phylogenetic tree, the NtSPL genes were divided into eight subgroups, and the genes in the same subgroup showed similar gene structures and conserved domains. The cis-acting element analysis of the NtSPL promoters showed that the NtSPL genes were regulated by plant hormones and stresses. Twenty-eight of the 42 NtSPL genes can be targeted by miR156. Transcriptome data and qPCR results indicated that the expression pattern of miR156-targeted NtSPL genes was usually tissue specific. The expression level of miR156 in tobacco was induced by Cd stress, and the expression pattern of NtSPL4a showed a significant negative correlation with that of miR156. These results suggest that miR156-NtSPL4a may mediate the tobacco response to Cd stress. This study lays a foundation for further research on the function of the NtSPL gene and provides new insights into the involvement of NtSPL genes in the plant response to heavy metal stress.

Keywords: Nicotiana tabacum L.; SPL gene family; cadmium; expression patterns; miR156.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Cadmium / toxicity
MicroRNAs* / genetics
MicroRNAs* / metabolism
Nicotiana* / genetics
Nicotiana* / metabolism
Phylogeny
Transcriptome

Substances

Cadmium
MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. KJZD-K202001504), State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Technology Innovation Program of Chongqing University of Science and Technology (Grant No. YKJCX2120517), and the National Undergraduate Training Programs for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of China (Grant No. 202211551011).