Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of <i>Aspartic proteases</i> in <i>Populus euphratica</i> Reveals Candidates Involved in Salt Tolerance
Aspartic proteases (APs) are among the four primary families of proteolytic enzymes found in plants, and they are essential for both stress response mechanisms and developmental activities. While the <i>AP</i> gene family has been studied in model plants like <i>Arabidopsis</i&g...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1930 |
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| Summary: | Aspartic proteases (APs) are among the four primary families of proteolytic enzymes found in plants, and they are essential for both stress response mechanisms and developmental activities. While the <i>AP</i> gene family has been studied in model plants like <i>Arabidopsis</i>, its characterization in woody species-particularly in extremophytes like <i>Populus euphratica</i>, remains limited. Moreover, the potential involvement of <i>APs</i> in salt tolerance mechanisms in trees is yet to be explored. In this research, 55 <i>Pe</i>APs were discovered and categorized into three distinct classes based on their conserved protein structures. The phylogenetic analysis revealed potential functions of <i>AP</i> genes derived from <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, <i>V. vinifera</i>, and <i>P. euphratica</i>. Our findings indicate that <i>PeAP</i> possesses a well-conserved evolutionary background and contains numerous highly variable regions, making it an excellent candidate for the identification and systematic examination of woody trees. Additionally, motifs frequently found in aspartic proteases within the genome of <i>P. euphratica</i> may be linked to functional <i>PeAP</i>s. It appears that <i>PeAPs</i> are associated with specific gene functions. These genes are influenced by cis-elements, which may play a role in their responsiveness to phytohormone, stress adaptation maybe changed to these genes are regulated by cis-elements that may mediate their responsiveness to phytohormones, abiotic stress, and developmental cues. Our research offers the initial comprehensive analysis of the <i>AP</i> family in <i>P. euphratica</i>, emphasizing its potential functions in adapting to salt conditions. The findings uncover candidate <i>PeAPs</i> for genetic engineering to enhance salinity tolerance in woody crops. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |