Genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of the Solanum tuberosum aquaporins

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 73; pp. 392 - 404
• Main Authors: Venkatesh, Jelli, Yu, Jae-Woong, Park, Se Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier Masson SAS 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Amino Acid Sequence; Aquaporin; Aquaporins - chemistry; Aquaporins - genetics; Aquaporins - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Profiling; Genes, Plant; Genome, Plant; Homologues; Major intrinsic proteins; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogenetics; Plant Development; Plant physiology and development; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Structures - metabolism; Plant Tubers; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - chemistry; Solanum tuberosum - genetics; Solanum tuberosum - growth & development; Solanum tuberosum - metabolism; Stress, Physiological; PGSC; Abiotic stress; Solanum tuberosum; GLPs; AQPs; Homologues; Phylogenetics; PIPs; NIPs; MIPs; NJ; XIPs; Aquaporin; Major intrinsic proteins; SIPs; TIPs; Intrinsic protein; Phylogeny; Plant physiology; Dicotyledones; Analysis; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Tuber plant; Solanaceae; Genome; neighbour-joining; x-intrinsic proteins; NOD26-like intrinsic proteins; quaglyceroporins; aquaporins; tonoplast intrinsic proteins; plasma membrane intrinsic proteins; small basic intrinsic proteins; potato genome sequencing consortium
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2013.10.025

Aquaporins belongs to the major intrinsic proteins involved in the transcellular membrane transport of water and other small solutes. A comprehensive genome-wide search for the homologues of Solanum tuberosum major intrinsic protein (MIP) revealed 41 full-length potato aquaporin genes. All potato aquaporins are grouped into five subfamilies; plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), NOD26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs), small basic intrinsic proteins (SIPs) and x-intrinsic proteins (XIPs). Functional predictions based on the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filters and Froger's positions showed a remarkable difference in substrate transport specificity among subfamilies. The expression pattern of potato aquaporins, examined by qPCR analysis, showed distinct expression profiles in various organs and tuber developmental stages. Furthermore, qPCR analysis of potato plantlets, subjected to various abiotic stresses revealed the marked effect of stresses on expression levels of aquaporins. Taken together, the expression profiles of aquaporins imply that aquaporins play important roles in plant growth and development, in addition to maintaining water homeostasis in response to environmental stresses. •A comprehensive genome-wide analysis of potato aquaporin gene is carried out.•Identified 41 full-length aquaporin protein-coding genes from potato genome.•A systemic nomenclature is proposed based on sequence homology and phylogenetics.•Several full-length cDNA sequences of novel XIPs were identified and cloned.•Differential expressions of St-MIPs observed in various tissues and stress treatments.