Dataset Information

Genome-wide analysis of SET-domain group histone methyltransferases in apple reveals their role in development and stress responses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Histone lysine methylation plays an important role in plant development and stress responses by activating or repressing gene expression. Histone lysine methylation is catalyzed by a class of SET-domain group proteins (SDGs). Although an increasing number of studies have shown that SDGs play important regulatory roles in development and stress responses, the functions of SDGs in apple remain unclear.

Results

A total of 67 SDG members were identified in the Malus×domestica genome. Syntenic analysis revealed that most of the MdSDG duplicated gene pairs were associated with a recent genome-wide duplication event of the apple genome. These 67 MdSDG members were grouped into six classes based on sequence similarity and the findings of previous studies. The domain organization of each MdSDG class was characterized by specific patterns, which was consistent with the classification results. The tissue-specific expression patterns of MdSDGs among the 72 apple tissues in the different apple developmental stages were characterized to provide insight into their potential functions in development. The expression profiles of MdSDGs were also investigated in fruit development, the breaking of bud dormancy, and responses to abiotic and biotic stress; the results indicated that MdSDGs might play a regulatory role in development and stress responses. The subcellular localization and putative interaction network of MdSDG proteins were also analyzed.

Conclusions

This work presents a fundamental comprehensive analysis of SDG histone methyltransferases in apple and provides a basis for future studies of MdSDGs involved in apple development and stress responses.

SUBMITTER: Li W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8054418 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Dendrobium catenatum, as a precious Chinese herbal medicine, is an epiphytic orchid plant, which grows on the trunks and cliffs and often faces up to diverse environmental stresses. SET DOMAIN GROUP (SDG) proteins act as histone lysine methyltransferases, which are involved in pleiotropic developmental events and stress responses through modifying chromatin structure and regulating gene transcription, but their roles in D. catenatum are unknown. RESULTS:In this study, we identified 44 SDG proteins from D. catenatum genome. Subsequently, comprehensive analyses related to gene structure, protein domain organization, and phylogenetic relationship were performed to evaluate these D. catenatum SDG (DcSDG) proteins, along with the well-investigated homologs from the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa as well as the newly characterized 42 SDG proteins from a closely related orchid plant Phalaenopsis equestris. We showed DcSDG proteins can be grouped into eight distinct classes (I~VII and M), mostly consistent with the previous description. Based on the catalytic substrates of the reported SDG members mainly in Arabidopsis, Class I (E(z)-Like) is predicted to account for the deposition of H3K27me2/3, Class II (Ash-like) for H3K36me, Class III (Trx/ATX-like) for H3K4me2/3, Class M (ATXR3/7) for H3K4me, Class IV (Su (var)-like) for H3K27me1, Class V (Suv-like) for H3K9me, as well as class VI (S-ET) and class VII (RBCMT) for methylation of both histone and non-histone proteins. RNA-seq derived expression profiling showed that DcSDG proteins usually displayed wide but distinguished expressions in different tissues and organs. Finally, environmental stresses examination showed the expressions of DcASHR3, DcSUVR3, DcATXR4, DcATXR5b, and DcSDG49 are closely associated with drought-recovery treatment, the expression of DcSUVH5a, DcATXR5a and DcSUVR14a are significantly influenced by low temperature, and even 61% DcSDG genes are in response to heat shock. CONCLUSIONS:This study systematically identifies and classifies SDG genes in orchid plant D. catenatum, indicates their functional divergence during the evolution, and discovers their broad roles in the developmental programs and stress responses. These results provide constructive clues for further functional investigation and epigenetic mechanism dissection of SET-containing proteins in orchids.