Search

Abstract Background Aspartic proteases (APs) are a class of aspartic peptidases belonging to nine proteolytic enzyme families whose members are widely distributed in biological organisms. APs play essential functions during plant development and environmental adaptation. However, there are few reports about APs in fast-growing moso bamboo. Result In this study, we identified a total of 129 AP proteins (PhAPs) encoded by the moso bamboo genome. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses showed that these 129 PhAPs could be divided into three categories (categories A, B and C). The PhAP gene family in moso bamboo may have undergone gene expansion, especially the members of categories A and B, although homologs of some members in category C have been lost. The chromosomal location of PhAPs suggested that segmental and tandem duplication events were critical for PhAP gene expansion. Promoter analysis revealed that PhAPs in moso bamboo may be involved in plant development and responses to environmental stress. Furthermore, PhAPs showed tissue-specific expression patterns and may play important roles in rapid growth, including programmed cell death, cell division and elongation, by integrating environmental signals such as light and gibberellin signals. Conclusion Comprehensive analysis of the AP gene family in moso bamboo suggests that PhAPs have experienced gene expansion that is distinct from that in rice and may play an important role in moso bamboo organ development and rapid growth. Our results provide a direction and lay a foundation for further analysis of plant AP genes to clarify their function during rapid growth.

Abstract Background Rab proteins form the largest family of the Ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins and regulate intracellular trafficking pathways. However, the function of the Rab proteins in woody species is still an open question. Results Here, a total of 67 PtRabs were identified in Populus trichocarpa and categorized into eight subfamilies (RabA-RabH). Based on their chromosomal distribution and duplication blocks in the Populus genome, a total of 27 PtRab paralogous pairs were identified and all of them were generated by whole-genome duplication events. Combined the expression correlation and duplication date, the PtRab paralogous pairs that still keeping highly similar expression patterns were generated around the latest large-scale duplication (~ 13 MYA). The cis-elements and co-expression network of unique expanded PtRabs suggest their potential roles in poplar development and environmental responses. Subcellular localization of PtRabs from each subfamily indicates each subfamily shows a localization pattern similar to what is revealed in Arabidopsis but RabC shows a localization different from their counterparts. Furthermore, we characterized PtRabE1b by overexpressing its constitutively active mutant PtRabE1b(Q74L) in poplar and found that PtRabE1b(Q74L) enhanced the salt tolerance. Conclusions These findings provide new insights into the functional divergence of PtRabs and resources for genetic engineering resistant breeding in tree species.