Search Results (12)

Pecan is an important oilseed tree species valued for its nutrient-rich nuts. WRKY and VQ proteins play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress response. However, few WRKY and VQ genes in pecan have been functionally analyzed due to functional redundancy caused by gene duplication. In this study, 89 CiWRKYs and 47 CiVQs were identified in pecan genome, which were unevenly distributed across chromosomes. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed high diversity among members. Duplication analysis indicated that segmental duplication was the major factor of family expansion of CiWRKY and CiVQ. Ka/Ks ratios revealed that most duplicated gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Promoter analysis identified numerous cis-acting elements associated with light response, hormone regulation, and abiotic stress, implying their potential regulatory roles in development and stress response. Expression data across six tissues demonstrated tissue-specific patterns, with several genes highly expressed in flowers and roots. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 63 CiWRKY and 27 CiVQ genes were significantly upregulated under drought stress. qRT-PCR validation confirmed that CiPaw.10G165200 and CiPaw.04G072500 were highly induced by salt treatment, with expression levels increasing over 100-fold at 8 d. Moreover, CiPaw.10G165200 was also highly expressed under ABA treatment, which indicated it might play a key role in the response to abiotic stresses. Our results provide valuable insights into the evolutionary patterns and functional roles of WRKY and VQ genes in pecan and lay a foundation for improving stress tolerance and molecular breeding in this economically important nut tree. Full article

The valine glutamine (VQ) proteins are transcription cofactors involved in various aspects of plant biology, including growth, development, and stress resistance, making them an attractive target for genetic engineering aimed at enhancing plant resilience and productivity. However, comprehensive reports or systematic studies on VQ cofactors in Salix suchowensis remain lacking. In this study, we analyzed SsVQ genes using bioinformatics methods based on the Salix suchowensis genome database. Expression profiles were further investigated through qRT-PCR under six treatments: PEG, NaCl, 40 °C, ABA, SA, and MeJA. A total of 39 SsVQ genes were identified, with phylogenetic analysis classifying them into seven groups. Collinearity analysis suggested that SsVQ gene amplification primarily resulted from whole genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication events. Ka/Ks ratios indicated that willow VQ genes have undergone predominantly purifying selection. Gene structure analysis revealed that SsVQ genes are intronless. Multiple sequence alignment showed that SsVQ19 shares similarity with PtVQ27, containing a hydrophilic threonine (T) residue preceding the VQ amino acid residues. Furthermore, genes within each group exhibited conserved structures and VQ motifs. Promoter and expression analyses suggested the potential roles of SsVQ genes in regulating willow responses to environmental stresses and hormonal signals. Most SsVQ genes displayed differential expression at specific time points, with six members (SsVQ2, SsVQ9, SsVQ12, SsVQ23, SsVQ32, and SsVQ34) showing sustained high-amplitude expression profiles across treatments. Notably, SsVQ34 demonstrated pronounced transcriptional induction under PEG stress, with expression levels upregulated by 62.29-fold (1 h), 49.21-fold (6 h), 99.9-fold (12 h), and 201.50-fold (24 h). Certain SsVQ genes showed co-expression under abiotic/hormonal stresses, implying synergistic functions. Paralogous gene pairs exhibited stronger co-expression than non-paralogous pairs. This study provides novel insights into the structural and functional characteristics of the VQ gene family in Salix suchowensis, establishing a foundation for future research on the stress-resistance mechanisms of willow VQ genes. Full article

Valine-glutamine (VQ) motif-containing proteins play important roles in diverse plant developmental processes and signal transduction in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, no systematic investigation has been conducted on VQ genes in watermelon. In this study, we identified 31 watermelon VQ genes, which were classified into six subfamilies (I–VI). All of the deduced proteins contained a conserved FxxxVQxL/F/VTG motif. Eleven ClVQs were involved in segment duplication, which was the main factor in the expansion of the VQ family in watermelon. Numerous stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements were detected in the putative promoter region of the ClVQ genes. Green fluorescent protein fusion proteins for ten selected ClVQs were localized in the nucleus, but three ClVQs also showed signals in cell membranes and the cell wall, thus confirming their predicted divergent functionality. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that the majority of ClVQ genes were specifically or preferentially expressed in certain tissues or organs, especially in the male flower. Analyses of RNA-sequencing data under osmotic, cold, and drought stresses and Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) infection revealed that the majority of ClVQ genes, especially those from subfamily IV, were responsive to these stresses. The results provide useful information for the functional characterization of watermelon ClVQ genes to unravel their biological roles. Full article

VQ motif-containing (VQ) proteins are a class of transcription regulatory cofactors widely present in plants, playing crucial roles in growth and development, stress response, and defense. Although there have been some reports on the member identification and functional research of VQ genes in some plants, there is still a lack of large-scale identification and clear graphical presentation of their basic characterization information to help us to better understand this family. Especially in gymnosperms, the VQ family genes and their evolutionary relationships have not yet been reported. In this study, we systematically identified 2469 VQ genes from 56 plant species, including bryophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, and analyzed their molecular and evolutionary features. We found that amino acids are only highly conserved in the VQ domain, while other positions are relatively variable; most VQ genes encode relatively small proteins and do not have introns. The GC content in Poaceae plants is the highest (up to 70%); these VQ proteins can be divided into nine subgroups. In particular, we analyzed the molecular characteristics, chromosome distribution, duplication events, and expression levels of VQ genes in three gymnosperms: Ginkgo biloba, Taxus chinensis, and Pinus tabuliformis. In gymnosperms, VQ genes are classified into 11 groups, with highly similar motifs in each group; most VQ proteins have less than 300 amino acids and are predicted to be located in nucleus. Tandem duplication is an important driving force for the expansion of the VQ gene family, and the evolutionary processes of most VQ genes and duplication events are relatively independent; some candidate VQ genes are preliminarily screened, and they are likely to be involved in plant growth and stress and defense responses. These results provide detailed information and powerful references for further understanding and utilizing the VQ family genes in various plants. Full article

Leaf senescence is an important factor affecting the functional transition from nutrient assimilation to nutrient remobilization in crops. The senescence of wheat leaves is of great significance for its yield and quality. In the leaf senescence process, transcriptional regulation is a committed step in integrating various senescence-related signals. Although the plant-specific transcriptional regulation factor valine-glutamine (VQ) gene family is known to participate in different physiological processes, its role in leaf senescence is poorly understood. We isolated TaVQ25-A and studied its function in leaf senescence regulation. TaVQ25-A was mainly expressed in the roots and leaves of wheat. The TaVQ25-A-GFP fusion protein was localized in the nuclei and cytoplasm of wheat protoplasts. A delayed senescence phenotype was observed after dark and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment in TaVQ25-A-silenced wheat plants. Conversely, overexpression of TaVQ25-A accelerated leaf senescence and led to hypersensitivity in ABA-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. A WRKY type transcription factor, TaWRKY133, which is tightly related to the ABA pathway and affects the expression of some ABA-related genes, was found to interact with TaVQ25-A both in vitro and in vivo. Results of this study indicate that TaVQ25-A is a positive regulator of ABA-related leaf senescence and can be used as a candidate gene for wheat molecular breeding. Full article

Valine–glutamine (VQ) motif-containing proteins are transcriptional regulatory cofactors that play critical roles in plant growth and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, information on the VQ gene family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is currently limited. In this study, a total of 32 SiVQ genes were identified in foxtail millet and classified into seven groups (I–VII), based on the constructed phylogenetic relationships; the protein-conserved motif showed high similarity within each group. Gene structure analysis showed that most SiVQs had no introns. Whole-genome duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplications contributed to the expansion of the SiVQ gene family. The cis-element analysis demonstrated that growth and development, stress response, and hormone-response-related cis-elements were all widely distributed in the promoters of the SiVQs. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that the expression of most SiVQ genes was induced by abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments, and seven SiVQ genes showed significant upregulation under both abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. A potential interaction network between SiVQs and SiWRKYs was predicted. This research provides a basis to further investigate the molecular function of VQs in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. Full article

Valine-glutamine (VQ) motif-containing proteins are a class of highly conserved transcriptional regulators in plants and play key roles in plant growth, development, and response to various stresses. However, the VQ family genes in mustard have not yet been comprehensively identified and analyzed. In this study, a total of 120 VQ family genes (BjuVQ1 to BjuVQ120), which were unevenly distributed on 18 chromosomes (AA_Chr01 to BB_Chr08), were characterized in mustard. A phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the BjuVQ proteins were clustered into nine distinct groups (groups I to IX), and members in the same group shared a highly conserved motif composition. A gene structure analysis suggested that most BjuVQ genes were intronless. A gene duplication analysis revealed that 254 pairs of BjuVQ genes were segmentally duplicated and one pair was tandemly duplicated. Expression profiles obtained from RNA-seq data demonstrated that most BjuVQ genes have different gene expression profiles in different organs, including leaf, stem, root, flower bud, pod, and seed. In addition, over half of the BjuVQ genes were differentially expressed at some time points under low temperature treatment. The qRT-PCR data revealed that BjuVQ23, BjuVQ55, BjuVQ57, BjuVQ67, BjuVQ100, and BjuVQ117 were upregulated in response to cold stress. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the roles of different BjuVQ genes in mustard and their possible roles in growth and development, as well as in response to cold stress. Full article

The VQ motif-containing proteins play a vital role in various processes such as growth, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and development. However, there is currently no report on the VQ genes in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). Herein, 78 VQ genes in Saccharum spontaneum were identified and classified into nine subgroups (I-IX) by comparative genomic analyses. Each subgroup had a similar structural and conservative motif. These VQ genes expanded mainly through whole-genome segmental duplication. The cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of the VQ genes were widely involved in stress responses, phytohormone responses and physiological regulation. The RNA-seq data showed that SsVQ gene expression patterns in 10 different samples, including different developmental stages, revealed distinct temporal and spatial patterns. A total of 23 SsVQ genes were expressed in all tissues, whereas 13 SsVQ genes were not expressed in any tissues. Sequence Read Archive (SRA) data showed that the majority of SsVQs responded to cold and drought stress. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the SsVQs were variously expressed under salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA) and cold treatment. This study conducted a full-scale analysis of the VQ gene family in sugarcane, which could be beneficial for the functional characterization of sugarcane VQ genes and provide candidate genes for molecular resistance breeding in cultivated sugarcane in the future. Full article

VQ motif-containing proteins (VQ proteins) are transcriptional regulators that work independently or in combination with other transcription factors (TFs) to control plant growth and development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. VQ proteins contain a conserved FxxhVQxhTG amino acid motif that is the main element of its interaction with WRKY TFs. We identified 59 members of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) NtVQ gene family by in silico analysis and examined their differential expression in response to phytohormonal treatments and following exposure to biotic and abiotic stressors. NtVQ proteins clustered into eight groups based upon their amino acid sequence and presence of various conserved domains. Groups II, IV, V, VI, and VIII contained the largest proportion of NtVQ gene family members differentially expressed in response to one or more phytohormone, and NtVQ proteins with similar domain structures had similar patterns of response to different phytohormones. NtVQ genes differentially expressed in response to temperature alterations and mechanical wounding were also identified. Over half of the NtVQ genes were significantly induced in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection. This first comprehensive characterization of the NtVQ genes in tobacco lays the foundation for further studies of the NtVQ-mediated regulatory network in plant growth, developmental, and stress-related processes. Full article

VQ genes play important roles in plant development, growth, and stress responses. However, little information regarding the functions of VQ genes is available for Eucalyptus grandis. In our study, genome-wide characterization and identification of VQ genes were performed in E. grandis. Results showed that 27 VQ genes, which divided into seven sub-families (I–VII), were found, and all but two VQ genes showed no intron by gene structure and conserved motif analysis. To further identify the function of EgrVQ proteins, gene expression analyses were also developed under hormone treatments (brassinosteroids, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid) and abiotic conditions (salt stress, cold 4 °C, and heat 42 °C). The results of a quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the EgrVQs were variously expressed under different hormone treatments and abiotic stressors. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of VQ genes in E. grandis, which will be beneficial in the molecular breeding of E. grandis to promote its resistance to abiotic stressors; the results also provide a basis from which to conduct further investigation into the functions of VQ genes in E. grandis. Full article

Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) family proteins comprise a class of transcriptional repressors that silence jasmonate-inducible genes. Although a considerable amount of research has been carried out on this gene family, there is still very little information available on the role of specific JAZ gene members in multiple pathogen resistance, especially in non-model species. In this study, we investigated the potential resistance function of the VqJAZ7 gene from a disease-resistant wild grapevine, Vitis quinquangularis cv. “Shang-24”, through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. VqJAZ7-expressing transgenic Arabidopsis were challenged with three pathogens: the biotrophic fungus Golovinomyces cichoracearum, necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea, and semi-biotrophic bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. We found that plants expressing VqJAZ7 showed greatly reduced disease symptoms for G. cichoracearum, but not for B. cinerea or P. syringae. In response to G cichoracearum infection, VqJAZ7-expressing transgenic lines exhibited markedly higher levels of cell death, superoxide anions (O₂¯, and H₂O₂ accumulation, relative to nontransgenic control plants. Moreover, we also tested the relative expression of defense-related genes to comprehend the possible induced pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that VqJAZ7 in grapevine participates in molecular pathways of resistance to G. cichoracearum, but not to B. cinerea or P. syringae. Full article

The VQ motif-containing gene, a member of the plant-specific genes, is involved in the plant developmental process and various stress responses. The VQ motif-containing gene family has been studied in several plants, such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). However, no systematic study has been performed in Pyrus species, which have important economic value. In our study, we identified 41 and 28 VQ motif-containing genes in Pyrus bretschneideri and Pyrus communis, respectively. Phylogenetic trees were calculated using A. thaliana and O. sativa VQ motif-containing genes as a template, allowing us to categorize these genes into nine subfamilies. Thirty-two and eight paralogous of VQ motif-containing genes were found in P. bretschneideri and P. communis, respectively, showing that the VQ motif-containing genes had a more remarkable expansion in P. bretschneideri than in P. communis. A total of 31 orthologous pairs were identified from the P. bretschneideri and P. communis VQ motif-containing genes. Additionally, among the paralogs, we found that these duplication gene pairs probably derived from segmental duplication/whole-genome duplication (WGD) events in the genomes of P. bretschneideri and P. communis, respectively. The gene expression profiles in both P. bretschneideri and P. communis fruits suggested functional redundancy for some orthologous gene pairs derived from a common ancestry, and sub-functionalization or neo-functionalization for some of them. Our study provided the first systematic evolutionary analysis of the VQ motif-containing genes in Pyrus, and highlighted the diversification and duplication of VQ motif-containing genes in both P. bretschneideri and P. communis. Full article