Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression of the Hsf Gene Family in Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and the Potential Thermotolerance of SmHsf1 and SmHsf7 in Yeast
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The MS entitled "Genome-wide characterization of the Hsf gene family in Salvia 1 miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and role of SmHsfB2 in heat tolerance' is well structured, having interesting information. However, before accepting for the publication the author need to revise the current version of the manuscript as suggested below. Authors should address following queries carefully and should submit a rebuttal.
- Check and mention the scientific and common names in the whole manuscript. Please add scientific names at first mention and used common names consistently thereafter.
- Please check carefully the spacing between words in the whole text.
- Most of the abbreviations in the manuscript are not elaborated. Please re-check and elaborate them at first mention and used consistently thereafter.
- Arrange the key words alphabetically.
- Please be checked the whole manuscript, the format should be improved such as there are some unit presentations, put the relevant unit with each value across the manuscript.
- Revised the abstract to sustain the essence of the proposed title, since the title of this review is too broad but justification has not been doe accordingly.
- The introduction section is well written and in my opinion it sheds light on the problem in a concise manner, but it should be more elaborated. Authors are suggested to write a brief about the long-term significant contribution of impacts of heat stress on plant and soil health by stating some statistical approximation.
- Mention the implicational strategies associated with Hsf gene in agricultural field and food security in brief.
- Conclusion part is not satisfactory and can be modified. The prospects need to be rewritten because the profound relationship between heat stress and Hsf gene is not elucidated, so future research directions should be better pointed out.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Title:
Genome-wide characterization of the Hsf gene family in Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) and role of SmHsfB2 in heat tolerance
General comments:
The manuscript is well written and organized!
What statistical analysis was used?
Specific comments
Abstract
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) is a traditional Chinese herb with significant medicinal value. 12 The yield and quality of Danshen are greatly affected by climatic conditions, in particular high temperatures. 13 Heat shock factors (Hsfs) play important regulatory roles in plant response to heat and other environmental 14 stresses. However, little is currently known about the role played by the Hsf gene family in S. miltiorrhiza. 15 Here, we identified 35 SmHsf genes and classified them into three major groups (SmHsfA, SmHsfB, and 16 SmHsfC) using phylogenetic analysis. The gene structure and protein motifs were relatively conserved within 17 subgroups but diverged among the different groups. The expansion of the SmHsf gene family was mainly 18 driven by whole-genome/segmental and dispersed gene duplications. The expression profile of SmHsfs in four 19 distinct organs revealed its members are predominantly expressed in the root. The expression of a large number 20 of SmHsfs was regulated by drought, UV, heat and exogenous hormones. Notably, the SmHsf1 and SmHsf7 21 genes in SmHsfB2 were the most responsive to heat and are conserved between dicots and monocots. Finally, 22 heterologous expression analysis showed that SmHsf1 and SmHsf7 enhance thermotolerance in yeast. Our 23 results provide a solid foundation for further functional investigation of SmHsfs in Danshen plants as a re- 24 sponse to abiotic stresses. 25
Could you please show some data in the abstract?
Why the figures are not included in the text?
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Thanks to the authors for applying my comments accordingly. All the best!