Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11): 261-271.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0381

Previous Articles    

Cloning and Expression Pattern Analysis of Brassinosteriod Signal Response Transcription Factors GmBEE1 and GmBEE3 in Soybean

HE Wen-xin1(), CHEN Ling1, HUANG Ling-lin1, XU Yan1, SUN Zu-dong2, ZENG Wei-ying2, CHANG Xiao-li1(), YANG Feng1()   

  1. 1.College of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan Crop Strip Intercropping Engineering and Technology Research Center, Chengdu 611130
    2.Economic Crops Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007
  • Received:2025-04-12 Online:2025-11-26 Published:2025-12-09
  • Contact: CHANG Xiao-li, YANG Feng E-mail:1392733453@qq.com;xl_chang14042@sicau.edu.cn;f.yang@sicau.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective This study aims to explore the biological functions of soybean transcription factors GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 involving in brassinosteroid signaling, and provides a scientific basis for the discovery of soybean disease resistance and high-yield gene resources. Method The soybean variety Nandou 12 (Glycine max cv. Nandou 12) was used as the material, bioinformatics methods were employed to analyze GmBEEs' gene structure, physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins, and their spatial conformations, the gene coding sequences (CDS) of GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 were cloned, and the subcellular localizations of the proteins were observed using the tobacco transient expression system. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze the tissue-specific expressions of the two GmBEEs genes and their expression characteristics under different treatments. Result Both GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 in soybean contained six exons and five introns, and identified as the typical bHLH transcription factor. Their encoded proteins were acidic and unstable. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 proteins were closely related to homologous proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and tobacco (Nicotinan tabacum). Promoter cis-acting element analysis showed that the promoter regions of both genes contained functional elements related to light response, stress response, and hormone regulation. Both Bioinformatics predictions and tobacco transient expression experiments indicated that GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 proteins were localized in the nucleus. Tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that the expressions of GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 in soybean flowers and leaves were higher than those in the seeds, roots, stems, and pods. Treatment with the pathogen strain Fusarium oxysporum B3S1 and the bacterial flagellin peptide flg22 significantly induced the expressions of both GmBEEs, whereas treatment with rhizosphere beneficial bacterial strain Pseudomonas chlororaphis IRHB3 suppressed their expression. Additionally, exogenous treatments with salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and brassinolide (BL) transiently and significantly induced the expressions of GmBEE1a and GmBEE3, followed by a reduction in expression. Conclusion The soybean bHLH transcription factors GmBEE1a and GmBEE3 not only participate in regulating soybean growth and development but also respond to microbial colonization and exogenous hormone treatments.

Key words: soybean, transcription factor bHLH, GmBEE gene, expression pattern