Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage

IntroductionInorganic phosphorus (Pi) is an indispensable nutrient for plant growth, with phosphate transporter proteins (PHTs) having key roles in Pi uptake, transport, and signal transduction in plants. However, a systematic and comprehensive genomic analysis of the wheat PHT family (covering PHT1...

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Main Authors: Meini Song, Pengcheng Li, Lirong Yao, Chengdao Li, Erjing Si, Baochun Li, Yaxiong Meng, Xiaole Ma, Ke Yang, Hong Zhang, Xunwu Shang, Huajun Wang, Juncheng Wang
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1531642/full
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author Meini Song
Meini Song
Pengcheng Li
Pengcheng Li
Lirong Yao
Lirong Yao
Chengdao Li
Erjing Si
Erjing Si
Baochun Li
Baochun Li
Yaxiong Meng
Yaxiong Meng
Xiaole Ma
Xiaole Ma
Ke Yang
Ke Yang
Hong Zhang
Hong Zhang
Xunwu Shang
Huajun Wang
Huajun Wang
Juncheng Wang
Juncheng Wang
author_facet Meini Song
Meini Song
Pengcheng Li
Pengcheng Li
Lirong Yao
Lirong Yao
Chengdao Li
Erjing Si
Erjing Si
Baochun Li
Baochun Li
Yaxiong Meng
Yaxiong Meng
Xiaole Ma
Xiaole Ma
Ke Yang
Ke Yang
Hong Zhang
Hong Zhang
Xunwu Shang
Huajun Wang
Huajun Wang
Juncheng Wang
Juncheng Wang
author_sort Meini Song
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionInorganic phosphorus (Pi) is an indispensable nutrient for plant growth, with phosphate transporter proteins (PHTs) having key roles in Pi uptake, transport, and signal transduction in plants. However, a systematic and comprehensive genomic analysis of the wheat PHT family (covering PHT1-5 and PHO1) is lacking.MethodsIn view of this, we successfully identified 180 Triticum aestivum PHT (TaPHT) members in 6 PHT families using bioinformatics, and performed in-depth phylogenetic analyses between these protein sequences and PHT family proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and an important rice crop.ResultsWe observed that the TaPHT family could be subdivided into 6 phylogenetic clusters, specifically including 46 TaPHT1, 3 TaPHT2, 65 TaPHT3, 22 TaPHT4, 14 TaPHT5, and 30 TaPHO1 members. We also comprehensively profiled the phylogenetic relationships, structural features, conserved motifs, chromosomal localization, cis-acting elements and subcellular localization of these members. These features showed a high degree of conservation within each subfamily. In particular, in the 2000 bp sequence upstream of the TaPHT genes, we identified multiple cis-acting elements closely related to Pi responses, such as P1BS (PHR1 binding site), MBS (MYB binding site), and a W-box (WRKY binding site), which suggested that TaPHT genes were possibly involved in Pi signaling pathways. We screened 24 TaPHT genes by qRT-PCR (real-time quantitative PCR) and investigated their expression in roots and shoots of two wheat cultivars (Pi efficient material SW2 and Pi inefficient material SW14) under low Pi stress conditions. All genes showed up-regulated expression patterns associated with Pi nutritional status, with relative gene expression generally higher in the SW2 cultivar when compared to SW14. Particularly noteworthy was that TaPHT1;36 in the SW2 cultivar showed high and relative stable expression in wheat roots. Combining our bioinformatics and relative gene expression analyses, we preliminarily screened TaPHT1;36 as a candidate gene for low Pi tolerance and further confirmed its subcellular localization.DiscussionOur work not only identified important TaPHT family roles in coping with low Pi stress, but it also provides a functional research basis and candidate gene resource for solving Pi deficiency-related problems.
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spelling doaj-art-3d590524fcfe49ec9e88d7be6a1da0222025-08-20T02:49:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-03-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15316421531642Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stageMeini Song0Meini Song1Pengcheng Li2Pengcheng Li3Lirong Yao4Lirong Yao5Chengdao Li6Erjing Si7Erjing Si8Baochun Li9Baochun Li10Yaxiong Meng11Yaxiong Meng12Xiaole Ma13Xiaole Ma14Ke Yang15Ke Yang16Hong Zhang17Hong Zhang18Xunwu Shang19Huajun Wang20Huajun Wang21Juncheng Wang22Juncheng Wang23State Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaWestern Barley Genetics Alliance, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, AustraliaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Botany, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaState Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science / Gansu Key Lab of Crop Improvement and Germplasm Enhancement, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Crop Genetics and Breeding, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, ChinaIntroductionInorganic phosphorus (Pi) is an indispensable nutrient for plant growth, with phosphate transporter proteins (PHTs) having key roles in Pi uptake, transport, and signal transduction in plants. However, a systematic and comprehensive genomic analysis of the wheat PHT family (covering PHT1-5 and PHO1) is lacking.MethodsIn view of this, we successfully identified 180 Triticum aestivum PHT (TaPHT) members in 6 PHT families using bioinformatics, and performed in-depth phylogenetic analyses between these protein sequences and PHT family proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and an important rice crop.ResultsWe observed that the TaPHT family could be subdivided into 6 phylogenetic clusters, specifically including 46 TaPHT1, 3 TaPHT2, 65 TaPHT3, 22 TaPHT4, 14 TaPHT5, and 30 TaPHO1 members. We also comprehensively profiled the phylogenetic relationships, structural features, conserved motifs, chromosomal localization, cis-acting elements and subcellular localization of these members. These features showed a high degree of conservation within each subfamily. In particular, in the 2000 bp sequence upstream of the TaPHT genes, we identified multiple cis-acting elements closely related to Pi responses, such as P1BS (PHR1 binding site), MBS (MYB binding site), and a W-box (WRKY binding site), which suggested that TaPHT genes were possibly involved in Pi signaling pathways. We screened 24 TaPHT genes by qRT-PCR (real-time quantitative PCR) and investigated their expression in roots and shoots of two wheat cultivars (Pi efficient material SW2 and Pi inefficient material SW14) under low Pi stress conditions. All genes showed up-regulated expression patterns associated with Pi nutritional status, with relative gene expression generally higher in the SW2 cultivar when compared to SW14. Particularly noteworthy was that TaPHT1;36 in the SW2 cultivar showed high and relative stable expression in wheat roots. Combining our bioinformatics and relative gene expression analyses, we preliminarily screened TaPHT1;36 as a candidate gene for low Pi tolerance and further confirmed its subcellular localization.DiscussionOur work not only identified important TaPHT family roles in coping with low Pi stress, but it also provides a functional research basis and candidate gene resource for solving Pi deficiency-related problems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1531642/fullwheat (Triticum aestivum L.)phosphate transporter proteinPHT gene familygene expressionlow phosphorus stress
spellingShingle Meini Song
Meini Song
Pengcheng Li
Pengcheng Li
Lirong Yao
Lirong Yao
Chengdao Li
Erjing Si
Erjing Si
Baochun Li
Baochun Li
Yaxiong Meng
Yaxiong Meng
Xiaole Ma
Xiaole Ma
Ke Yang
Ke Yang
Hong Zhang
Hong Zhang
Xunwu Shang
Huajun Wang
Huajun Wang
Juncheng Wang
Juncheng Wang
Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
Frontiers in Plant Science
wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
phosphate transporter protein
PHT gene family
gene expression
low phosphorus stress
title Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
title_full Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
title_fullStr Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
title_short Characterizing the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
title_sort characterizing the wheat triticum aestivum l phosphate transporter gene family and analyzing expression patterns in response to low phosphorus stress during the seedling stage
topic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
phosphate transporter protein
PHT gene family
gene expression
low phosphorus stress
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1531642/full
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