Search Results (162)

Glucose is the main source of energy and the source of carbon for the biosynthesis of several molecules, such as neurotransmitters, for most mammalian cells. Therefore, the transport of glucose into cells is very important. There are described three distinct families of glucose transporters: facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs), sodium-dependent glucose cotransporters (SGLTs), and a uniporter, the SWEET protein. Impaired function and/or expression of these transporters due to, for example, mutations in their genes, may cause severe diseases. Associations with the impaired function of glucose transporters have been described in the case of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, GLUT1-deficiency syndrome, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Changes in the presence of glucose transporters may be a cause of NDs, and they may be the effect of NDs. On the other hand, in many cases of neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the expression of glucose transporters may be a targeted therapy in the treatment of patients with these diseases. Full article

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA; EC 4.1.2.13) is a key enzyme in glycolysis and the Calvin cycle, which plays crucial roles in carbon allocation and plant growth. The FBA family genes (FBA s) have been identified in several plants. However, their presence and roles in sweet potato remain unexplored. In this study, a total of 20 FBAs were identified in sweet potato and its wild wild diploidrelatives, including seven in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, 2n = 6x = 90), seven in I. trifida (2n = 2x = 30), and six in I. triloba (2n = 2x = 30). Their protein physicochemical properties, chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, promoter cis-elements, and expression patterns were systematically analyzed. The conserved genes and protein structures suggest a high degree of functional conservation among FBA genes. IbFBAs may participate in storage root development and starch biosynthesis, especially IbFBA1 and IbFBA6, which warrant further investigation as candidate genes. Additionally, the FBAs could respond to drought and salt stress. They are also implicated in hormone crosstalk, particularly with ABA and GA. This work provides valuable insights into the structure and function of FBAs and identifies candidate genes for improving yield, starch content, and abiotic stress tolerance in sweet potatoes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sweet potato is a tropical and subtropical crop and its growth and yield are susceptible to low-temperature stress. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the low temperature stress of sweetpotato are unknown. Methods: In this work, combined transcriptome and metabolism analysis was employed to investigate the low-temperature responses of two sweet potato cultivars, namely, the low-temperature-resistant cultivar “X33” and the low-temperature-sensitive cultivar “W7”. Results: The differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) of X33 at different time stages clustered in five profiles, while they clustered in four profiles of W7 with significant differences. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in X33 and W7 at different time points clustered in five profiles. More DEGs exhibited continuous or persistent positive responses to low-temperature stress in X33 than in W7. There were 1918 continuously upregulated genes and 6410 persistent upregulated genes in X33, whereas 1781 and 5804 were found in W7, respectively. Core genes involved in Ca²⁺ signaling, MAPK cascades, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway, and transcription factor families (including bHLH, NAC, and WRKY) may play significant roles in response to low temperature in sweet potato. Thirty-one common differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the two cultivars in response to low temperature. The KEGG analysis of these common DEMs mainly belonged to isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, ABC transporters, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Five DEMs with identified Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were selected for correlation analysis. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the carbohydrate metabolism, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism pathways were significantly enriched and played vital roles in low-temperature resistance in sweet potato. Conclusions: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant cold tolerance and offer targets for molecular breeding efforts to enhance low-temperature resistance. Full article

Sugars Will Eventually Be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) are involved in plant growth and development, particularly in resistance to adverse environments. Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski exhibits rhizosheath formation and demonstrates notable salt and drought tolerance. We identified 31 sugar transporter family genes (AsSWEETs) from the Achnatherum splendens genome in the NCBI database and performed bioinformatics analyses, including gene structure, subcellular localization, conserved sequences, promoter cis-acting elements, phylogenetic relationships, and chromosomal localization. The 31 AsSWEET genes are distributed across 13 chromosomes, encoding peptides ranging from 375 to 1353 amino acids. Their predicted molecular weights range from 31,499.38 to 109,286.91 Da, with isoelectric points (pI) between 4.78 and 5.21. The aliphatic index values range from 13.59 to 24.19, and the grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) values range from 0.663 to 1.664. An analysis of promoter cis-acting elements reveals that all 31 AsSWEET genes contain multiple elements related to light, stress, and hormone responses. Subcellular localization predictions indicate that most genes in this family are localized to the plasma membrane or tonoplast, with AsSWEET12-2 and AsSWEET3b localized in chloroplasts and AsSWEET2b-2 in the nucleus. qRT-PCR results show that AsSWEET13-1, AsSWEET13-3, and AsSWEET1a exhibit upregulated expression in response to salt and drought stress in the roots of Achnatherum splendens. These genes may serve as candidate genes for investigating the stress resistance mechanisms of Achnatherum splendens. The findings provide a theoretical basis for further research on stress resistance mechanisms and candidate gene identification under salt and drought stress in Achnatherum splendens. Full article

The Fabaceae family, the third-largest among flowering plants, is nutritionally vital, providing rich sources of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Leguminous plants, such as soybeans, peas, and chickpeas, typically contain two to three times more protein than cereals like wheat and rice, with low fat content (primarily unsaturated fats) and no cholesterol, making them essential for cardiovascular health and blood sugar management. Since the release of the soybean genome in 2010, genomic research in Fabaceae has advanced dramatically. High-quality reference genomes have been assembled for key species, including soybeans (Glycine max), common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), and model legumes like Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, leveraging long-read sequencing, single-cell technologies, and improved assembly algorithms. These advancements have enabled telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies, pan-genome constructions, and the identification of structural variants (SVs) and presence/absence variations (PAVs), enriching our understanding of genetic diversity and domestication history. Functional genomic tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, mutagenesis, and high-throughput omics (transcriptomics, metabolomics), have elucidated regulatory networks controlling critical traits like photoperiod sensitivity (e.g., E1 and Tof16 genes in soybeans), seed development (GmSWEET39 for oil/protein transport), nitrogen fixation efficiency, and stress resilience (e.g., Rpp3 for rust resistance). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and comparative genomics have further linked genetic variants to agronomic traits, such as pod size in peanuts (PSW1) and flowering time in common beans (COL2). This review synthesizes recent breakthroughs in legume genomics, highlighting the integration of multi-omic approaches to accelerate gene cloning and functional confirmation of the genes cloned. Full article

This study provides the first comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the SWEET gene family in yam (Dioscorea rotundata), integrating structural bioinformatics, gene expression profiling, and functional validation to explore its roles in sucrose transport and tuber development. A total of 19 SWEET genes were identified and predicted to localize to the plasma membrane, and they showed high phylogenetic conservation with Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting conserved functions in sugar distribution. Yeast substrate assays revealed that DrSWEET6 and DrSWEET12 are capable of transporting both hexose and sucrose across the plasma membrane, with their expression predominantly observed in the tuber, implicating their involvement in sucrose unloading. Expression profiling indicated high expression levels of the SWEET genes at the tuber apex, which progressively increased during tuber development, underscoring their critical roles in sucrose unloading, cell expansion, and biomass accumulation. These findings provide novel insights into the structural and functional mechanisms of the SWEET-mediated sucrose transport in yam, laying a solid foundation for future crop improvement strategies aiming to optimize sucrose distribution and enhance tuber yield and quality. Full article

The SWEET gene family is a group of genes with important functions in plants that is mainly involved in the transport and metabolism of carbohydrate substances. In this study, 32 mango (Mangifera indica L.) SWEET genes were screened and identified at the whole-genome level through bioinformatics methods. A systematic predictive analysis was conducted on their physicochemical properties, homology relationships, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal locations, genomic structures, promoter cis-acting elements, and transcription factor regulatory networks. Meanwhile, the transcription levels of mango SWEET genes in different varieties and at different fruit development stages were also analyzed to obtain information about their functions. These results showed that 32 mango SWEET genes were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis divided the SWEET proteins of mango, Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., and Oryza sativa L. into four clades; in each clade, the mango SWEET proteins were more closely related to those of Arabidopsis. Four types of cis-acting elements were also found in the promoter regions of mango SWEET genes, including light-responsive elements, development-related elements, plant hormone-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements. Interestingly, we found that the Misweet3 and Misweet10 genes showed strong expression in different mango varieties and at different fruit development stages, and they both belonged to the fourth Clade IV (G4) in the phylogenetic tree, indicating that they play a key role in the sugar accumulation process of mango. In this study, the upstream transcription factors of Misweet3, Misweet8, Misweet9, Misweet10, Misweet17, Misweet18, Misweet19, Misweet21, Misweet23, Misweet25, Misweet27, and Misweet31, those that had high expression levels in the transcriptome data, were predicted, and transcription factors such as ERF, NAC, WRKY, MYB, and C₂H₂ were screened. The results of this study provide a new way to further study the regulation of mango SWEET family genes on sugar accumulation, highlight their potential role in fruit quality improvement, and lay an important foundation for further study of mango SWEET function and enhance mango competitiveness in fruit market. Full article

DNA methylation is a conserved and vital epigenetic modification that plays essential roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. Cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferases (C5-MTases) and DNA demethylases (dMTases) are key regulators of DNA methylation dynamics. However, a comprehensive characterization of these gene families in sweet potato has remained elusive. In this study, we systematically identified and analyzed eight C5-MTase and five dMTase genes in the genomes of diploid (Ipomoea trifida, 2n = 2x = 30) and autohexaploid (Ipomoea batatas, 2n = 6x = 90) sweet potato. Phylogenetic, structural, and synteny analyses revealed a high degree of conservation among these genes, suggesting their essential roles during evolution. Promoter analysis uncovered multiple cis-acting elements, particularly those responsive to light and hormones. In addition, we examined the expression profiling of IbC5-MTases and IbdMTases genes during storage root development, revealing that several were highly expressed during the early and rapid expansion stages. These findings suggest that C5-MTases and dMTases may contribute to the regulation of storage root formation in sweet potato through epigenetic mechanisms, offering valuable insights for future functional studies and epigenetic breeding efforts. Full article

Taraxacum, a genus in the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed across temperate regions and plays a vital ecological role by providing nectar and pollen to pollinators during the early flowering season. Floral nectar is a key reward that plants use to attract pollinators, and its production is tightly regulated by genes such as SWEET sugar transporters and CELL WALL INVERTASE (CWIN), which govern sugar efflux and hydrolysis. Despite their ecological importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying nectar secretion in Taraxacum remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing of flower tissues from five Taraxacum species—T. coreanum, T. monogolicum, T. ohwianum, T. hallaisanense, and T. officinale—to investigate the expression of nectar-related genes. De novo transcriptome assembly revealed that T. coreanum had the highest unigene count (74,689), followed by T. monogolicum (69,234), T. ohwianum (64,296), T. hallaisanense (59,599), and T. officinale (58,924). Functional annotation and phylogenetic analyses identified 17 putative SWEET and 18 CWIN genes across the five species. Differential gene expression analysis highlighted tarSWEET9 and tarCWIN4 as consistently up-regulated during the flowering stage. Quantitative PCR in T. officinale further validated that tarSWEET9, tarCWIN4, tarCWIN6, and tarSPAS2 show significant expression during floral development but are down-regulated after pollination. These genes are likely central to the regulation of nectar secretion in response to pollination cues. Our findings suggest that T. officinale may have evolved to have an efficient, pollinator-responsive nectar secretion system, contributing to its global adaptability. This study sheds light on how pollinator interactions influence gene expression patterns and may drive evolutionary divergence among Taraxacum species. Full article

Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors play significant roles in plant growth and organ development and diverse biochemical processes. However, the function of bHLH transcription factors in woody plants is not fully understood. In this study, the bHLH gene family in Rhododendron × pulchrum Sweet was identified and characterized using whole-genome data. A total of 109 bHLH family genes (RpbHLHs) were identified in R. pulchrum, and their expression levels were analyzed in flowers of different colors and developmental stages. The results showed that the RpbHLH family is divided into 24 subfamilies. Chromosomal localization and collinearity analyses revealed numerous duplication events during evolution, which is one of the main reasons for the diversification of gene functions. The bHLH domains showed relative conservation of RpbHLH proteins. In the promoter regions of the RpbHLHs, various cis-regulatory elements involved in light response, gibberellic acid (GA) response, and abscisic acid (ABA) response were identified. These elements may regulate flower development and pigment synthesis. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis of the target RpbHLHs revealed that 25 genes are enriched in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Potential RpbHLHs related to flower development and pigment synthesis were identified through a transcriptome analysis and validated through quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). This study will enhance our understanding of RpbHLH functions and provide a reference for the study of flower development and coloration in R. pulchrum. Full article

Background/Objectives: In perennial plants, developing floral buds survive winter through entering a dormant state, which is induced by low temperature and abscisic acid (ABA). ABA performs vital functions in the dormancy process. ABA-insensitive 5 (ABI5) transcription factor is a key regulator in the ABA signaling pathway. However, little is known about the regulation of ABI5 in the winter dormancy of sweet cherries. Methods: We identified the sweet cherry ABI5 gene and its expression changes using gene cloning and qRT-PCR. Additionally, we validated the interaction between PavABI5 and PavCIG1/2 using Yeast One-Hybrid and Dual-Luciferase Assays. Results: In this study, we identified a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family gene ABI5 from the sweet cherry, which was closely related to PduABI5 from Prunus dulcis, PpABI5 from Prunus persica, PmABI5 from Prunus mume, and ParABI5 from Prunus armeniaca, through phylogenetic tree analysis. The seasonal expression pattern showed that the PavABI5 level was increased during the winter dormancy stage and induced by exogenous ABA. Specifically, we found that the expression of cherry cold-induced genes (PavCIG1/2) was positively correlated with PavABI5 expression. Furthermore, PavABI5 directly bound to the ABRE elements in the PavCIG1/2 promoters to activate their expression. We further confirmed that the dormancy-associated MADS-box (DAM) genes DAM4 and DAM5 function downstream of the ABA signaling pathway to regulate bud dormancy in sweet cherries. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a putative regulatory model of ABA-mediated bud-dormancy with PavABI5. Full article

The SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporter) gene family represents a novel class of sugar transporters capable of bidirectionally transporting sugars along the concentration gradient. In this study, we identified 50 SWEET genes from the peanut cultivar Shitouqi, which were phylogenetically classified into four clades. Promoter analysis revealed that the AhSWEET genes contain multiple cis-acting elements associated with stress responses, growth regulation, and hormone signaling, suggesting their potential roles in plant development and adaptation to environmental challenges. Transcriptome profiling highlighted AhSWEET50 as the most highly expressed member during early seed development stages in both low- and high-sucrose peanut cultivars and also highly expressed at the mature stage. Subcellular localization confirmed the presence of AhSWEET50 in both the plasma membrane and cytoplasm, with predominant expression observed in embryos. The heterologous overexpression of AhSWEET50 in Arabidopsis significantly increased soluble sugar accumulation when compared to wild-type plants. These results validate the functional role of AhSWEET50 in sugar transport and provide a foundation for understanding the mechanisms of sugar allocation in peanuts, which has implications for improving seed quality through metabolic engineering. Full article

The SWEET (Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) protein family plays a key role in plant growth, adaptation, and stress responses by facilitating soluble sugar transport. However, their functions in Cymbidium remain poorly understood. This study identified 59 SWEET genes across four Cymbidium species, encoding conserved MtN3/saliva domains. Despite variations in exon-intron structures, gene motifs and domains were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis grouped 95 SWEET proteins from six species into four clades, with gene expansion driven by whole-genome, segmental, and tandem duplications. Cis-element analysis and expression profiling across 72 samples revealed diverse regulatory patterns. Notably, SWEET genes showed peak expression in floral development, leaf morph variations, and diurnal rhythms. qRT-PCR and transcription factor binding analysis further highlighted their regulatory roles in floral patterning, leaf variation, and metabolic rhythms. These findings provide a foundation for future studies on SWEET gene function and their potential molecular breeding value in orchids. Full article

The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor families, playing a crucial role in adaptation to abiotic stresses. However, the NAC gene family in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified 130 NAC genes (PaNAC) from the sweet cherry genome, which were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the PaNACs into 21 distinct groups, including 2 sweet cherry-specific groups. Comparative analysis revealed significant variations in gene proportions, exon–intron structures, and motif compositions among different groups. Furthermore, cis-element analysis suggested the potential roles of PaNACs in regulating plant growth, development, hormone signaling, and stress responses. Transcriptomic data revealed tissue-specific expression patterns for several PaNAC genes. qRT-PCR further confirmed that eight selected PaNACs were responsive to various abiotic stresses in Gisela 6, a widely used hybrid rootstock in sweet cherry production that shares high sequence similarity in NAC genes with P. avium. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on the functional characteristics of the PaNAC genes in the growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress in sweet cherry. Full article

Hainan’s unique climate significantly contributes to soil acidification, causing phosphorus fixation into insoluble compounds, leading to phosphorus deficiency and reduced yield in sweet potatoes. The Phosphate Transporter 2 (PHT2) family, a group of trans-membrane phosphate transporters, is crucial for phosphate transport, distribution, and homeostasis regulation. Two PHT2 genes, IbPHT2-1 and IbPHT2-2, were first identified in sweet potato, and a phylogenetic analysis of 46 species showed high conservation of the IbPHT2 gene family throughout plant evolution. Tissue-specific expression patterns of IbPHT2 genes were determined in four sweet potato varieties using transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR. The results demonstrated that IbPHT2 was predominantly expressed in shoots, mature leaves, stems, and fibrous roots. Under phosphorus deficiency stress, IbPHT2-2 expression was upregulated in shoots, mature leaves, and fibrous roots, with higher expression in mature leaves compared to IbPHT2-1. This observation suggests that, in the context of phosphorus deficiency stress, IbPHT2-2 assumes a more pivotal function in the response mechanism. The expression levels of IbPHT2-2 presented a negative relationship with fresh leaf weight (FLW) as well as fibrous root number per plant (FRNPP) and fibrous root weight per plant (FRWPP) based on correlation analysis. The restrictive function of IbPHT2-2 became impaired by phosphorus deficiency, which resulted in inhibited leaf and root development of sweet potato. The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence that IbPHT2-2 is a key gene involved in the response to phosphorus deficiency stress, influencing phosphorus absorption and distribution in sweet potato. This research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying phosphorus utilization in sweet potato and may inform future strategies for improving phosphorus use efficiency in this important crop. Full article