The U-box family genes in Medicago truncatula: Key elements in response to salt, cold, and drought stresses

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 3;12(8):e0182402. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182402. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The ubiquitination pathway regulates growth, development, and stress responses in plants, and the U-box protein family of ubiquitin ligases has important roles in this pathway. Here, 64 putative U-box proteins were identified in the Medicago truncatula genome. In addition to the conserved U-box motif, other functional domains, such as the ARM, kinase, KAP, and WD40 domains, were also detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the M. truncatula U-box proteins grouped them into six subfamilies, and chromosomal mapping and synteny analyses indicated that tandem and segmental duplications may have contributed to the expansion and evolution of the U-box gene family in this species. Using RNA-seq data from M. truncatula seedlings subjected to three different abiotic stresses, we identified 33 stress-inducible plant U-box genes (MtPUBs). Specifically, 25 salinity-, 15 drought-, and 16 cold-regulated MtPUBs were detected. Among them, MtPUB10, MtPUB17, MtPUB18, MtPUB35, MtPUB42, and MtPUB44 responded to all three stress conditions. Expression profiling by qRT-PCR was consistent with the RNA-seq data, and stress-related elements were identified in the promoter regions. The present findings strongly indicate that U-box proteins play critical roles in abiotic stress response in M. truncatula.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Plant
  • Cold Temperature
  • Droughts
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Medicago truncatula / drug effects
  • Medicago truncatula / genetics*
  • Multigene Family
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Salt Tolerance / genetics*
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant number 31560076 (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantindex/funcindex/prjsearch-list) to JIANBO SONG. The role of the sponsors was RNA sequencing and data analysis related fee. This study was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant number 91440105 (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantindex/funcindex/prjsearch-list) to XIAOWEI MO, LUMING YUE. The role of the sponsors was study design and RNA sequencing. This study was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant number 31571332 (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantindex/funcindex/prjsearch-list) to BEIXIN MO. The role of the sponsors was data collection and analysis. This study was also supported by the Guangdong Innovation Research Team Fund, grant number 2014ZT05S078 (http://cxtd.gdstc.gov.cn) to BEIXIN MO, JUN SONG. The role of the sponsors was decision to publish and data collection and analysis. This study was also supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, grant number 2016M592523 (http://jj.chinapostdoctor.org.cn/V1/Program3/Default.aspx) to JIANBO SONG, HAIQI YANG. The role of the sponsors was preparation of the manuscript.