GAPDH Gene Family in Populus deltoides: Genome-Wide Identification, Structural Analysis, and Expression Analysis...

Area of Science:

• Plant molecular biology
• Biochemistry
• Genomics

Background:

• Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is crucial for glycolysis and non-metabolic roles in animals.
• GAPDH is vital for plant metabolism and stress responses, but its function in plant stress resistance is largely unknown.
• A comprehensive analysis of the GAPDH gene family in Populus deltoides (Poplar) has not been previously conducted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and systematically analyze the GAPDH gene family in Populus deltoides.
• To investigate the physicochemical characteristics, structural features, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, motif composition, and expression patterns of PdGAPDH genes.
• To explore the potential role of PdGAPDH genes in plant stress resistance, particularly drought stress.

Main Methods:

• Bioinformatics approaches were employed for the systematic analysis of the P. deltoides GAPDH gene family.
• Analysis included physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, and motif analysis.
• Gene expression profiling was conducted in different tissues (leaves, stems, roots) and under drought stress conditions.

Main Results:

• Twelve members of the GAPDH gene family were identified in P. deltoides, classified into five types: GAPA, GAPB, GAPC1, GAPC2, and GAPCp.
• PdGAPDH genes exhibited differential expression across various tissues; PdGAPDH2 and PdGAPDH4 were highly expressed in leaves, while seven genes showed high expression in roots.
• Four PdGAPDH genes (PdGAPDH02, PdGAPDH03, PdGAPDH04, PdGAPDH11) displayed decreased expression under drought stress, with expression recovering after re-watering.

Conclusions:

• The identification and characterization of the PdGAPDH gene family provide a foundation for understanding their functions in Populus deltoides.
• Differential expression patterns suggest tissue-specific roles for PdGAPDH genes.
• The observed downregulation of specific PdGAPDH genes under drought stress indicates their involvement in the plant's response to water scarcity, paving the way for further research into drought tolerance mechanisms.