Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs) are important for regulating water and solute transport in plants, particularly under stress conditions. While AQP gene families have been reported in a few Cucurbitaceae species (Watermelon, Cucumber, Melon, and Bottle gourd), a comprehensive analysis across multiple Cucurbitaceae species is lacking. Our study identified and characterised 528 putative AQP-encoding genes across fourteen Cucurbitaceae using BLASTp and HMM searches. These are grouped into five subfamilies- PIPs (212), TIPs (118), NIPs (146), SIPs (39), and XIPs (13), based on phylogenetic analysis. Further, conserved gene structures and motifs support this subfamily-specific evolutionary relationship. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and transposed duplication (TRD) were the primary drivers of AQP expansion, with WGD common in Cucurbiteae and Sicyoeae tribes, while TRD in Benincaseae. Correlation between genome size and AQP abundance revealed a positive trend in Cucurbiteae and negative trends in Sicyoeae & Benincaseae tribes. Functional analysis predicted the transport of urea, boric acid, H2O2, CO2, and ammonia by AQPs in addition to water. Promoter analysis identified abiotic/biotic stress-related cis-regulatory elements, with ARE and WUN-motifs predominant. This study provided novel insights into the evolution and role of AQPs in Cucurbitaceae, providing a valuable foundation for future research on stress adaptation.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
The analysis identified 528 putative aquaporin genes across fourteen Cucurbitaceae.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaee0
- Gene
- AQP-encoding genese0
- Outcome
- AQP-encoding genese0
- Value
- 528e0
Verbatim
e0“identified and characterised 528 putative AQP-encoding genes across fourteen Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The identified genes fell into five phylogenetic subfamilies with reported counts.
Verbatim
e0“These are grouped into five subfamilies- PIPs (212), TIPs (118), NIPs (146), SIPs (39), and XIPs (13), based on phylogenetic analysis”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The PIPs subfamily comprised 212 genes.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- PIPse0
- Outcome
- PIPse0
- Value
- 212e0
Verbatim
e0“PIPs (212)”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The TIPs subfamily comprised 118 genes.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- TIPse0
- Outcome
- TIPse0
- Value
- 118e0
Verbatim
e0“TIPs (118)”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The NIPs subfamily comprised 146 genes.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- NIPse0
- Outcome
- NIPse0
- Value
- 146e0
Verbatim
e0“NIPs (146)”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The SIPs subfamily comprised 39 genes.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- SIPse0
- Outcome
- SIPse0
- Value
- 39e0
Verbatim
e0“SIPs (39)”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
The XIPs subfamily comprised 13 genes.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- XIPse0
- Outcome
- XIPse0
- Value
- 13e0
Verbatim
e0“XIPs (13)”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
Conserved structures and motifs supported subfamily-specific evolutionary relationships.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- gene structures and motifse0
- Outcome
- subfamily-specific evolutionary relationshipe0
Verbatim
e0“conserved gene structures and motifs support this subfamily-specific evolutionary relationship”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
Whole-genome and transposed duplications were identified as primary drivers of aquaporin expansion.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- AQPe0
- Outcome
- AQP expansione0
- Qualifier
- Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and transposed duplication (TRD)e0
Verbatim
e0“Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and transposed duplication (TRD) were the primary drivers of AQP expansion”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
Whole-genome duplication was common in Cucurbiteae and Sicyoeae.
Verbatim
e0“WGD common in Cucurbiteae and Sicyoeae tribes”
Claim · model-written summary
Transposed duplication was common in Benincaseae.
- Taxon
- BenincaseaeBenincaseaee0
- Outcome
- TRDe0
Verbatim
e0“TRD in Benincaseae”
Claim · model-written summary
Genome size and aquaporin abundance showed a positive trend in Cucurbiteae.
Verbatim
e0“genome size and AQP abundance revealed a positive trend in Cucurbiteae”
Claim · model-written summary
Genome size and aquaporin abundance showed negative trends in Sicyoeae and Benincaseae.
Verbatim
e0“Correlation between genome size and AQP abundance revealed a positive trend in Cucurbiteae and negative trends in Sicyoeae & Benincaseae tribes”
Claim · model-written summary
Functional analysis predicted that aquaporins transport urea, boric acid, and hydrogen peroxide.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- AQPse0
- Outcome
- transport of urea, boric acid, H2O2e0
- Qualifier
- predictede0
Verbatim
e0“Functional analysis predicted the transport of urea, boric acid, H2O2, CO2, and ammonia by AQPs in addition to water”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
Functional analysis predicted that aquaporins transport carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- AQPse0
- Outcome
- CO2, and ammonia by AQPs in addition to watere0
Verbatim
e0“transport of urea, boric acid, H2O2, CO2, and ammonia by AQPs in addition to water”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”
Claim · model-written summary
Promoter analysis found stress-related cis-regulatory elements, with ARE and WUN motifs predominant.
- Taxon
- CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaet0
- Gene
- ARE and WUN-motifse0
- Outcome
- abiotic/biotic stress-related cis-regulatory elementse0
- Direction
- predominante0
Verbatim
e0“Promoter analysis identified abiotic/biotic stress-related cis-regulatory elements, with ARE and WUN-motifs predominant”
t0“Cucurbitaceae”