Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (10): 196-209.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0462

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Identification of Soybean BCAT Gene Family and Functional Analysis of GmBCAT3 in Soybean Responses to Drought Stress

WANG Bi-cheng1,2(), JING Hai-qing1, WAN Kun1,2, ZHANG Ying-ying1,2, DING Jia-hao1, LI Run-zhi1, XUE Jin-ai1(), ZHANG Hai-ping2()   

  1. 1.College of Agronomy, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi Engineering Research Center for Genetics and Metabolism of Specific Crops, Taigu 030801
    2.Center for Agricultural Genetic Resources Research, Shanxi Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement on Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Taiyuan 030031
  • Received:2025-05-06 Online:2025-10-26 Published:2025-10-28
  • Contact: XUE Jin-ai, ZHANG Hai-ping E-mail:18656762826@163.com;306214803@qq.com;nkyzhp@126.com

Abstract:

Objective Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are the main metabolites accumulated by plants under drought stress, and branched-chain amino acid transaminase (BCAT) is the key enzyme in the final step reaction of BCAAs biosynthesis. The study of the biological functions of GmBCAT in soybean (Glycinemax) aims to lay a theoretical foundation for the genetic improvement of drought resistance in soybeans and other crops, and offers scientific references for the breeding of new soybean germplasms with excellent stress resistance. Method GmBCAT gene family members were identified in the soybean genome database, and the subcellular localization of GmBCAT protein was conducted. The functions of GmBCAT3 in the biosynthesis and accumulation of BCAA and in response to drought stress were studied through tobacco genetic transformation. Result A total of 10 GmBCAT genes were identified from the soybean genome, and GmBCAT members in the same group had similar conserved domains and gene structures. The promoters of the GmBCAT contained a various cis-acting elements related to plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the GmBCAT were differentially expressed in various tissues of the soybean and at different developmental stages of seeds. The expressions of GmBCAT2 and GmBCAT3 were significantly higher in the roots and leaves than those in other tissues. After drought stress treatment, the expressions of GmBCAT3 in soybean seedlings was the highest. The results of subcellular localization indicated that the GmBCAT3 protein was localized in chloroplasts. The genetic transformation of tobacco showed that the contents of valine, leucine and isoleucine in transgenic tobacco increased by 37.48%, 63.46% and 72.62%, respectively under normal conditions. Under drought stress, the leucine content of transgenic tobacco increased by 57.42%, while the levels of valine and isoleucine increased by 2.00 and 1.90 times respectively. Meanwhile, the proline content of transgenic tobacco increased by 3.40 times, the malondialdehyde content decreased by 23.01%, the activities of SOD and POD increased by 72.33% and 74.91% respectively. Moreover, the overexpression of GmBCAT3 in tobacco affected the expressions of genes related to BCAAs metabolism. Conclusion Heterologous overexpression of soybean GmBCAT3 significantly increases the content of BCAAs in transgenic tobacco and improves the drought tolerance of the plants.

Key words: soybean, branched-chain amino acid transaminase, genomic identification, expression analysis, drought stress response, tobacco genetic transformation