Dehydrins (DHNs) are hydrophilic proteins with conserved lysine-rich K-segment, which belong to Group II of the late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein family. DHNs are considered as molecular chaperons playing important roles in abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, DHN genes were identified through genome-wide searches in five Cucurbitaceae species, including cucumber, wild cucumber, melon, watermelon, and bitter gourd. Three to five DHN genes were found in each of the five species, which were further divided into several protein architecture types based on the presence and order of the major conserved motifs such as K-, Y-, and S-segments. In silico expression profiling using RNA-Seq data revealed high expression of SK₃-type DHN gene and low expression of other type DHN genes in cucumber and melon. In silico promoter analysis identified a number of cis-acting element-like sequences related to abiotic stress-response such as DRE and ABRE in 2-kb putative promoter sequences. DHN genes identified in this study will be valuable for understanding the stress response mechanism as well as assisting molecular breeding in Cucurbitaceae crops.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Drought stress tolerance mechanisms and their potential common indicators to salinity, insights from the wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus): A review
  Goitseone Malambane, Kelebogile Madumane, Lesego T. Sewelo, Utlwang Batlang
  Frontiers in Plant Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Genome-wide comprehensive characterization and expression analysis of TLP gene family revealed its responses to hormonal and abiotic stresses in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
  Chet Ram, Shagufta Danish, Mahipal Singh Kesawat, Bhupendra Singh Panwar, Manjusha Verma, Lalit Arya, Sheel Yadav, Vedprakash Sharma
  Gene.2022; 844: 146818.     CrossRef
• Genome Assembly and Annotation of Soft-Shelled Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi Variety ma-yuen), a Cereal and Medicinal Crop in the Poaceae Family
  Sang-Ho Kang, Byeollee Kim, Beom-Soon Choi, Hyun Oh Lee, Nam-Hoon Kim, Seung Jae Lee, Hye Sik Kim, Myung Ju Shin, Hyo-Won Kim, Kyunghyun Nam, Kyoung Dae Kang, Soo-Jin Kwon, Tae-Jin Oh, Sang-Choon Lee, Chang-Kug Kim
  Frontiers in Plant Science.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Knockdown of Gh_A05G1554 (GhDHN_03) and Gh_D05G1729 (GhDHN_04) Dehydrin genes, Reveals their potential role in enhancing osmotic and salt tolerance in cotton
  Joy Nyangasi Kirungu, Richard Odongo Magwanga, Lu Pu, Xiaoyan Cai, Yuanchao Xu, Yuqing Hou, Yun Zhou, Yingfan Cai, Fushun Hao, Zhongli Zhou, Kunbo Wang, Fang Liu
  Genomics.2020; 112(2): 1902.     CrossRef
• Diverse responsiveness of dehydrin genes to abscisic acid and water stress treatments in cucumber F1 cultivar hybrids
  Anita Szegő, Eszter Badics, Dorottya Gubala, Réka Oszlányi, Bat-Erdene Oyuntogtokh, Noémi Kappel, István Papp, Erzsébet Kiss-Bába
  The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology.2019; 94(6): 726.     CrossRef
• Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiling and Identification of Potential Genes Responsible for Salt Tolerance in Tall Fescue Leaves under Salinity Stress
  Erick Amombo, Xiaoning Li, Guangyang Wang, Shao An, Wei Wang, Jinmin Fu
  Genes.2018; 9(10): 466.     CrossRef
• Crosstalk between Brassinosteroids and Ethylene during Plant Growth and under Abiotic Stress Conditions
  Petra Jiroutova, Jana Oklestkova, Miroslav Strnad
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2018; 19(10): 3283.     CrossRef

AP2/EREBP gene family consists of transcription factor genes with a conserved AP2 DNA-binding domain and is involved in various biological processes. AP2/EREBP gene families were identified through genome-wide searches in five Cucurbitaceae species including cucumber, wild cucumber, melon, watermelon, and bitter gourd, which consisted of more than 100 genes in each of the five species. The gene families were further divided into five groups including four subfamilies (ERF, DREB, AP2 and RAV) and a soloist group. Among the subfamilies, DREB subfamily which is known to be related to abiotic stress response was more analyzed and a total of 25 genes were identified as Cucurbitaceae homologues of Arabidopsis CBF/DREB1 genes which are important for abiotic stress-response and tolerance. In silico expression profiling using RNA-Seq data revealed diverse expression patterns of cucumber AP2/EREBP genes. AP2/EREBP gene families identified in this study will be valuable for understanding the stress response mechanism as well as facilitating molecular breeding in Cucurbitaceae crops.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• BnAP2-12 overexpression delays ramie flowering: evidence from AP2/ERF gene expression
  Xiaoyang Zhang, Wenxian Peng, Hao Chen, Hucheng Xing
  Frontiers in Plant Science.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Genome Assembly and Structural Variation Analysis of Luffa acutangula Provide Insights on Flowering Time and Ridge Development
  Aizheng Huang, Shuo Feng, Zhuole Ye, Ting Zhang, Shenglong Chen, Changming Chen, Shijun Chen
  Plants.2024; 13(13): 1828.     CrossRef
• Genome-Wide Identification of APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR Transcription Factors in Cucurbita moschata and Their Involvement in Ethylene Response
  Qingfei Li, Li Zhang, Peiwen Chen, Chunhui Wu, Huaixia Zhang, Jingping Yuan, Junguo Zhou, Xinzheng Li
  Frontiers in Plant Science.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Breeding strategies for enhancing nutrient content and quality in Cucurbitaceae: a review
  Wan Nur Suzani Sazleen Wan Shafiin, Nurfatin Liyana Ablah, Hasan Nudin Nur Fatihah, Md. Amirul Alam, Rohayu Ma’arup, Md Sarwar Jahan, Kamarul Ain Mustafa, Nadiawati Alias
  International Journal of Vegetable Science.2021; 27(5): 415.     CrossRef
• Systematic analysis of the Capsicum ERF transcription factor family: identification of regulatory factors involved in the regulation of species-specific metabolites
  Jiali Song, Changming Chen, Shuanglin Zhang, Juntao Wang, Zhubing Huang, Muxi Chen, Bihao Cao, Zhangsheng Zhu, Jianjun Lei
  BMC Genomics.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Knockdown of Gh_A05G1554 (GhDHN_03) and Gh_D05G1729 (GhDHN_04) Dehydrin genes, Reveals their potential role in enhancing osmotic and salt tolerance in cotton
  Joy Nyangasi Kirungu, Richard Odongo Magwanga, Lu Pu, Xiaoyan Cai, Yuanchao Xu, Yuqing Hou, Yun Zhou, Yingfan Cai, Fushun Hao, Zhongli Zhou, Kunbo Wang, Fang Liu
  Genomics.2020; 112(2): 1902.     CrossRef
• Crosstalk between Brassinosteroids and Ethylene during Plant Growth and under Abiotic Stress Conditions
  Petra Jiroutova, Jana Oklestkova, Miroslav Strnad
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2018; 19(10): 3283.     CrossRef
• Comprehensive Transcriptome Profiling and Identification of Potential Genes Responsible for Salt Tolerance in Tall Fescue Leaves under Salinity Stress
  Erick Amombo, Xiaoning Li, Guangyang Wang, Shao An, Wei Wang, Jinmin Fu
  Genes.2018; 9(10): 466.     CrossRef