Genome-wide Identification， Evolution and Expression Pattern Analysis of Terpene Synthase Gene Family in Morinda officinalis

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0465

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To explore the basic characteristics, evolution and potential functions of the terpene synthases (TPS) gene family in Morinda officinalis. Method Based on the whole genome and transcriptome data of M. officinalis, the gene structure, evolution and expression pattern of MoTPS were systematically analyzed through screening of gene family members, examination of structural features, construction of evolutionary relationships, gene expression analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) prediction. Result A total of 33 MoTPS genes were identified in M. officinalis, unevenly distributed on 7 chromosomes, all of which were hydrophilic proteins located in chloroplasts. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the MoTPS gene family was divided into six subfamilies, among which the TPS-b and TPS-a subfamilies contained the most genes. There were six pairs of tandem replication genes and two pairs of segmental replication genes in MoTPS gene family. PPI prediction indicated that MoTPS1, MoTPS32, and MoTPS33 participated in the synthesis of gibberellins precursors by interacting with ent-KOD proteins, whileMoTPS18, MoTPS19, MoTPS20, and MotPS21 interacted with CYP450 proteins synthesized by terpenoid modification. Cis-acting element analysis showed that the MoTPS gene family was widely involved in light, hormone and abiotic stress responses. The correlation analysis of gene expression showed that 19 MoTPS family genes were significantly positively correlated with upstream genes in terpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Among them, the expression of MoTPS31, which encoded geraniol synthase, a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of iridoid components, was positively correlated with DXS1 in the MEP pathway. Conclusion Tandem duplication and segmental duplication events are the main driving forces for the evolution and expansion of MoTPS family genes. The MoTPS family genes are widely involved in light, hormone signal transduction and abiotic stress responses by regulating the biosynthesis of terpenoids.

Key words: Morinda officinalis, terpene synthase, gene family, bioinformatics analysis, expression pattern

LI Xu-long, XU Shi-qiang, ZHANG Long, LI Jing-yu, HE Wei-xian, CHEN Li-kai, WANG Ji-hua. Genome-wide Identification， Evolution and Expression Pattern Analysis of Terpene Synthase Gene Family in Morinda officinalis[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2026, 42(6): 314-325.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Phylogenetic tree of the TPS gene family in M. officinalis, A. thaliana, and M. longifolia

Fig. 2 Conserved motifs (A), gene structure (B), chromosomal distribution (C) of TPS gene family in M. officinalis, and collinearity analysis of TPS gene in M. officinalis, A. thaliana, C. canephora and C. acuminata (D)

Fig. 3 Prediction of cis-acting element distribution in the promoter of TPS gene family in M. officinalis (A), and the proportion of each cis-acting element in hormone, light response, and stress response elements (B)

Fig. 4 Prediction and analysis of the protein-protein interaction network analysis of TPS proteins in M. officinalis

Fig. 5 Analysis of expression pattern of TPS gene family in M. officinalis under abiotic stress (A) and MeJA induction (B)

Fig. 6 Expression verification of TPS gene by RT-qPCR in M. officinalis under abiotic stress and MeJA treatment

Fig. 7 Heatmap of the expression correlation between TPS family genes in M. officinalis and structure genes of terpenoid synthesis pathway (A), and correlation network diagram among some significantly correlated genes (B)

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