Identification and expression patterns of the cellulose synthase gene family in Dimocarpus longan Lour

Abstract

To clarify the biological function of the cellulose synthase (DlCESA) gene family in longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.), the gene structure, protein characteristics, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements and promoter, phylogenetic tree, and the FPKM values of DlCESA gene family were analyzed by the bioinformatics methods, and qRT-PCR was further used to detect the expression patterns of DlCESA. The results showed that the DlCESA gene family contained 9 members, and their introns ranged from 8 to 13. The physicochemical properties of the different DlCESA proteins were similar, and 15 conserved motifs were found. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the DlCESA were clustered into six groups; cis-acting elements of promoter sequences analysis showed DlCESA contained many plant hormone cis-acting elements and anaerobic elements. The FPKM values showed that DlCESA genes were highly expressed in non-embryogenic cultures (NEC) and down-regulated in the process of early somatic embryogenesis, and DlCESA genes were expressed in a range of tissues except DlCESA7-2. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR analysis showed that four DlCESA genes showed higher expression levels in the NEC stage, and ABA and MeJA down-regulated the expression of DlCESA genes. This study showed that DlCESA genes might be involved in reproductive growth, the somatic embryogenesis of longan, and abiotic stress response.