Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (7): 128-138.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2024-1255

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Identification of LEA Gene Family and Analysis on Its Response to Aluminum Stress in Ricinus communis L.

LI Kai-yue1(), DENG Xiao-xia1, YIN Yuan1, DU Ya-tong1, XU Yuan-jing1, WANG Jing-hong1, YU Song2, LIN Ji-xiang1()   

  1. 1.College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040
    2.College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040
  • Received:2024-12-24 Online:2025-07-26 Published:2025-07-22
  • Contact: LIN Ji-xiang E-mail:2023120534@nefu.edu.cn;linjixiang@nefu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To identify members of the RcLEA gene family in the Ricinus communis genome and analyze their gene characteristics, potential functions, which lays a foundation for exploring the role of LEA in regulating tolerance to aluminum stress. Method Bioinformatics was used to identify the LEA gene family of R. communis, then their physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, conserved motifs, promoter cis-acting elements of its proteins were analyzed, and finally the expressions of some RcLEA genes under aluminum stress was analyzed. Result A total of 52 LEA family gene members were identified from the R. communis genome. By phylogenetic analysis, they were classified into eight subgroups: RcLEA_1, RcLEA_2, RcLEA_3, RcLEA_4, RcLEA_5, RcLEA_6, Rc_DHN, and Rc_SMP, distributed across ten chromosomes. The number of amino acids of family members ranged from 91 to 406, with isoelectric points between 4.54 and 10.29, and molecular weights ranging from 9 951.42 to 44 515.78 Da. Most LEA proteins were hydrophilic. Motif analysis revealed significant variations among different subfamilies, while maintaining similarity within the same subclass. Gene structure analysis indicated that most genes contained one or more introns. Promoter regions of all 52 genes contained one or more cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and stress responses. Collinearity analysis identified eight pairs of duplicated genes. Additionally, real-time quantitative PCR results demonstrated that the expressions of the RcLEA genes changed under aluminum stress treatment compared to the control, suggesting their involvement in the responses to aluminum stress. Conclusion A total of 52 RcLEA genes are identified from the R. communis genome, which are classified into eight subgroups. Expression analysis of selected RcLEA genes from these eight subgroups under aluminum stress reveals significant alterations in the expressions of most genes, indicating their potential crucial roles in R. communis responding to aluminum stress.

Key words: Ricinus communis, LEA gene family, bioinformatics, whole genome identification, system evolution, Al (aluminum) stress treatment, expression analysis, response gene to Al stress