Superoxide dismutase (SOD) family in durum wheat: promising candidates for improving crop resilience

• Published in: Protoplasma 2023, Vol.260 (1), p.145-158
• Main Authors: Tounsi, Sana, Jemli, Sonia, Feki, Kaouthar, Brini, Faiçal, Najib Saïdi, Mohamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Drought; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genomes; Leaves; Life Sciences; Original Article; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Sciences; Protein structure; Regulatory sequences; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Triticum - genetics; Triticum - metabolism; Triticum durum; Zoology
• ISSN: 0033-183X; 1615-6102
• DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01767-w

The SOD family has been extensively analyzed at genome wide level in several crops. However, little is known about this family in durum wheat. In this study, a total of 14 TdSOD genes were identified in whole durum wheat genome including 8 TdCu-ZnSODs , 2 TdMnSODs , and 4 TdFeSODs . In silico analysis evinced that TdSOD family members displayed a closer evolutionary relationship, similar gene structure and protein features with their homologs from other plant species. Furthermore, the analysis of their promoter regions revealed the presence of a great number of cis -regulatory elements related to plant development, abiotic and biotic stresses, phytohormones, and several potential binding sites for transcription factors. Interestingly, 3D structure analysis revealed that TdCu-ZnSOD2A-2 and TdCu-ZnSOD2B-2, belonging to the Cu–Zn group, were modeled as copper chaperone for SOD like their homologs from rice and Arabidopsis . The expression profile of eight TdSOD candidate genes was investigated under salt, drought, cold, and ABA treatments. Notably, TdCu-ZnSOD2A-1 , TdFeSOD4A-1 , and TdFeSOD7A-1 were significantly up-regulated under all stress treatments. On the other hand, TdCu-ZnSOD7B and TdMnSOD2B were strongly expressed in roots and leaves under cold stress and TdCu-ZnSOD2B-2 was particularly up-regulated in leaves under ABA treatment. Ultimately, these findings provide valuable information for the identification of attractive candidate genes to improve wheat resilience.