Identification and Functional Analysis of the LEA_2 Gene Family in Potato in Response to Cold Stress and Hormones

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-1472

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) are important genes that regulate plant growth and development as well as responses to abiotic stress. This study aimed to investigate the biological function of StLEA_2 genes, so as to provide a theoretical basis and genetic resources for improving potato tolerance to cold. Method Members of the LEA_2 gene family were identified from the potato genome, and their physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, gene structure, evolutionary features and cis-acting elements were analyzed. Transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses were employed to examine the expression patterns of StLEA_2 under cold stress, jasmonic acid (JA) and gibberellic acid (GA) treatments. The function of StLEA37 in cold stress response was analyzed through Agrobacterium-mediated transient overexpression in tobacco. Result A total of 45 StLEA_2 genes were identified in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), while 42 ScLEA_2 genes were identified in the cold-tolerant wild species (Solanum commersonii), all of them were classified into nine subgroups. Subcellular localization prediction indicates that members of the LEA_2 gene family are mainly localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts. Collinearity analysis revealed that there are 10 and 11 pairs of homologous genes in the LEA family of cultivated and wild potatoes, respectively. The promoters of StLEA_2 genes contain numerous light-, stress-, and hormone-responsive elements. Expression analysis indicated that 44 StLEA_2 genes are involved in responses to low-temperature stress. Under GA and JA treatments, the expressions of 39 and 43 genes, respectively, changed significantly. StLEA37 is localized on the plasma membrane, and its transient overexpression contributes to the regulation of plant cold stress tolerance by activating the COR-CBF regulatory pathway and reactive oxygen species scavenging mechanisms. Conclusion A total of 45 StLEA_2 genes were identified in the potato genome. StLEA37 is localized on the plasma membrane and may participate in plant responses to cold stress by affecting the COR-CBF pathway and ROS scavenging mechanisms, as well as by mediating GA and JA signaling pathways.

Key words: potato, LEA_2 gene family, cold stress, jasmonic acid, gibberellic acid, expression analysis

DUAN Ya-xin, LI Cheng-chen, PAN Yu-ling, WANG Li, AN Kang, LI Xiao-bo, ZHU Guang-tao, LIU Ji-tao. Identification and Functional Analysis of the LEA_2 Gene Family in Potato in Response to Cold Stress and Hormones[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2026, 42(6): 40-52.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Phylogenetic tree of the LEA_2 gene family in potato, tomato, rice and Arabidopsis

Fig. 2 Analysis of gene structure (A) and conserved amino acid motifs (B) of the LEA_2 gene family in potato

Fig. 3 Collinearity analysis of the LEA_2 gene family in cultivated (A) and wild (B) potatoes

Fig. 4 Collinearity analysis of the LEA_2 gene family in potato, tomato, A. thaliana, and rice

Fig. 5 Cis-acting regulatory elements in the promoters of potato LEA_2 gene family members

Fig. 6 Expression patterns analysis of the potato LEA_2 gene family under low temperature stress

Fig. 7 Expression patterns analysis of the potato LEA_2 gene family under GA (A) and JA (B) hormone treatments

Fig. 8 Expression patterns of different potato LEA_2 gene members in response to low temperature, GA, and JADifferent letters indicate significant differences at P0.05. Values are presented as means ± SE (n=3), the same below

Fig. 9 Subcellular localization and gene expression analysis of the potato StLEA37 gene in tobacco leaves

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