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A Novel Gene Coding γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transporter May Improve the Tolerance of Populus euphratica to Adverse Environments
Novel genes provide important genetic resource for organism innovation. However, the evidence from genetic experiment is limited. In plants, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters (GATs) primarily transport GABA and further involve in plant growth, development, and response to various stresses. In...
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Published in: | Frontiers in plant science 2019-09, Vol.10, p.1083-1083 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Novel genes provide important genetic resource for organism innovation. However, the evidence from genetic experiment is limited. In plants, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters (GATs) primarily transport GABA and further involve in plant growth, development, and response to various stresses. In this study, we have identified the
GATs
family in
Populus
species and characterized their functional evolution and divergence in a desert poplar species (
Populus euphratica
). We found that the
GATs
underwent genus-specific expansion
via
multiple whole-genome duplications in
Populus
species. The purifying selection were identified across those
GATs
evolution and divergence in poplar diversity, except two paralogous
PeuGAT2
and
PeuGAT3
from
P. euphratica
. The both genes arose from a tandem duplication event about 49 million years ago and have experienced strong positive selection, suggesting that the divergence in PeuGAT3 protein function/structure might define gene function better than in expression pattern. Both
PeuGAT
genes were functionally characterized in
Arabidopsis
and poplar, respectively. The overexpression of
PeuGAT3
increased the thickness of xylem cells walls in both
Arabidopsis
and poplar and enhanced the lignin content of xylem tissues and the proline accumulation in poplar leaves, all of which may improve tolerance of salt/drought stress in desert poplars. Our findings help clarify the genetic mechanisms underpinning high tolerance in desert poplars and suggest that
PeuGAT3
could be an attractive candidate gene for engineering trees with improved brown-rot resistance. |
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ISSN: | 1664-462X 1664-462X |
DOI: | 10.3389/fpls.2019.01083 |