Heat shock transcriptional factors in Malus domestica: identification, classification and expression analysis

BMC Genomics

Research Article

Celestina Mariani¹  Sanja Baric²  Gea Guerriero²  Filomena Giorno³ 

[1] Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Laimburg, Laimburg 6, 39040, Auer/Ora, BZ, Italy;Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Laimburg, Laimburg 6, 39040, Auer/Ora, BZ, Italy;Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;

关键词: Hsf;    Malus domestica;    Gene expression;    High temperature;    Apple fruit/ flower;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2164-13-639

 received in 2012-06-13, accepted in 2012-11-08,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHeat shock transcriptional factors (Hsfs) play a crucial role in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress conditions and in plant growth and development. Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) is an economically important fruit tree whose genome has been fully sequenced. So far, no detailed characterization of the Hsf gene family is available for this crop plant.ResultsA genome-wide analysis was carried out in Malus domestica to identify heat shock transcriptional factor (Hsf) genes, named MdHsfs. Twenty five MdHsfs were identified and classified in three main groups (class A, B and C) according to the structural characteristics and to the phylogenetic comparison with Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus trichocarpa. Chromosomal duplications were analyzed and segmental duplications were shown to have occurred more frequently in the expansion of Hsf genes in the apple genome. Furthermore, MdHsfs transcripts were detected in several apple organs, and expression changes were observed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis in developing flowers and fruits as well as in leaves, harvested from trees grown in the field and exposed to the naturally increased temperatures.ConclusionsThe apple genome comprises 25 full length Hsf genes. The data obtained from this investigation contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of the Hsf gene family in apple, and provide the basis for further studies to dissect Hsf function during development as well as in response to environmental stimuli.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Giorno et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012