Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response
Abstract The increasing temperature is a major threat to plant growth and development. It severely alters various biochemical and physiological processes and ultimately affects the overall crop yield. The membrane-based remorin protein-encoding genes (REM) were previously reported as significantly i...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06059-y |
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| author | Aimen Shafique Xing Li Sajid Fiaz Kotb A. Attia Roua A. Alsubki Asim Shahzad Farrukh Azeem Asmaa M. Abushady Hongxing Xu |
| author_facet | Aimen Shafique Xing Li Sajid Fiaz Kotb A. Attia Roua A. Alsubki Asim Shahzad Farrukh Azeem Asmaa M. Abushady Hongxing Xu |
| author_sort | Aimen Shafique |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The increasing temperature is a major threat to plant growth and development. It severely alters various biochemical and physiological processes and ultimately affects the overall crop yield. The membrane-based remorin protein-encoding genes (REM) were previously reported as significantly involved in the regulation of various biotic and abiotic stressors. However, these REM genes were not studied in Cajanus Cajan, the sixth most important legume crop due to its rich protein source and traditional medicinal plant. In this study, 17 REM gene orthologs were identified in C. cajan against A. thaliana REM genes and verified through the presence of conserved REM-related domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that REM genes were divided into six different groups. All the REM genes were unevenly distributed on 11 chromosomes of C. cajan. 3D protein structures and intron-exon organization indicate conserved evolutionary pattern within C. cajan. Various core, hormone-responsive, and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements were found in promoter regions of REM genes, including TATA-box, CAAT-box, MYB, and G-box. The total estimation of antioxidant enzyme activity revealed the increase in POD and SOD activity, potentially due to a defense mechanism in response to high temperature. RNA sequencing data processing reveals higher expression of CcREM genes in leaf and flower, including CcREM1.1 and CcREM1.2. Furthermore, the differential change in expression was observed in response to high-temperature stress. Among these genes, one upregulated gene (CcREM1.3) and two downregulated genes (CcREM6.1 and CcREM6.5) are potential candidate targets for heat stress response, followed by qRT-PCR validation. Our findings suggest that CcREM1-like and CcREM6-like genes hold significant potential for future climate-smart heat-tolerant breeding of C. cajan. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27e680746a364be484d25e036c3bf3cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-27e680746a364be484d25e036c3bf3cd2025-08-20T02:48:30ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-02-0125111310.1186/s12870-025-06059-yMolecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress responseAimen Shafique0Xing Li1Sajid Fiaz2Kotb A. Attia3Roua A. Alsubki4Asim Shahzad5Farrukh Azeem6Asmaa M. Abushady7Hongxing Xu8School of Life Sciences, Henan UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Henan UniversityInstitute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, The University of LahoreDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityThe College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Henan UniversityDepartment of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College UniversityBiotechnology School, 26th of July Corridor, Nile UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Henan UniversityAbstract The increasing temperature is a major threat to plant growth and development. It severely alters various biochemical and physiological processes and ultimately affects the overall crop yield. The membrane-based remorin protein-encoding genes (REM) were previously reported as significantly involved in the regulation of various biotic and abiotic stressors. However, these REM genes were not studied in Cajanus Cajan, the sixth most important legume crop due to its rich protein source and traditional medicinal plant. In this study, 17 REM gene orthologs were identified in C. cajan against A. thaliana REM genes and verified through the presence of conserved REM-related domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that REM genes were divided into six different groups. All the REM genes were unevenly distributed on 11 chromosomes of C. cajan. 3D protein structures and intron-exon organization indicate conserved evolutionary pattern within C. cajan. Various core, hormone-responsive, and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements were found in promoter regions of REM genes, including TATA-box, CAAT-box, MYB, and G-box. The total estimation of antioxidant enzyme activity revealed the increase in POD and SOD activity, potentially due to a defense mechanism in response to high temperature. RNA sequencing data processing reveals higher expression of CcREM genes in leaf and flower, including CcREM1.1 and CcREM1.2. Furthermore, the differential change in expression was observed in response to high-temperature stress. Among these genes, one upregulated gene (CcREM1.3) and two downregulated genes (CcREM6.1 and CcREM6.5) are potential candidate targets for heat stress response, followed by qRT-PCR validation. Our findings suggest that CcREM1-like and CcREM6-like genes hold significant potential for future climate-smart heat-tolerant breeding of C. cajan.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06059-yPigeon peaROS balanceRNA-seqqRT-PCRAntioxidants |
| spellingShingle | Aimen Shafique Xing Li Sajid Fiaz Kotb A. Attia Roua A. Alsubki Asim Shahzad Farrukh Azeem Asmaa M. Abushady Hongxing Xu Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response BMC Plant Biology Pigeon pea ROS balance RNA-seq qRT-PCR Antioxidants |
| title | Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response |
| title_full | Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response |
| title_fullStr | Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response |
| title_short | Molecular characterization of REM genes in Cajanus cajan suggests the role of CcREM1 and CcREM6 like genes in heat stress response |
| title_sort | molecular characterization of rem genes in cajanus cajan suggests the role of ccrem1 and ccrem6 like genes in heat stress response |
| topic | Pigeon pea ROS balance RNA-seq qRT-PCR Antioxidants |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06059-y |
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