Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress

As the second largest family of transcription factors (TFs) in plants, basic helix–loop–helices (bHLHs) play key roles in regulating plant growth and development and responding to environmental stress. As the fastest growing <i>Citrus</i> variety in China in recent years, Orah mandarin h...

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Main Authors: Chaoying Chen, Xulin Li, Ke Wen, Tuo Yin, Ping Tian, Ke Zhao, Li Zhang, Xianyan Zhou, Xiaozhen Liu, Hanyao Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/882
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author Chaoying Chen
Xulin Li
Ke Wen
Tuo Yin
Ping Tian
Ke Zhao
Li Zhang
Xianyan Zhou
Xiaozhen Liu
Hanyao Zhang
author_facet Chaoying Chen
Xulin Li
Ke Wen
Tuo Yin
Ping Tian
Ke Zhao
Li Zhang
Xianyan Zhou
Xiaozhen Liu
Hanyao Zhang
author_sort Chaoying Chen
collection DOAJ
description As the second largest family of transcription factors (TFs) in plants, basic helix–loop–helices (bHLHs) play key roles in regulating plant growth and development and responding to environmental stress. As the fastest growing <i>Citrus</i> variety in China in recent years, Orah mandarin has vital economic and nutritional value. Although a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the bHLH TF family has been performed in many plants, a systematic study of the genes of this family has not been carried out in Orah mandarin. In this study, 114 bHLH TFs were identified in Orah mandarin via genome-wide analysis and were classified into 27 subfamilies according to the evolutionary tree. The gene expression profile revealed that five genes were significantly upregulated at 12 h and 24 h after low-temperature stress treatment. In addition, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline contents increased with increasing low-temperature stress, which promoted the expression of the <i>CrbHLH46</i> gene, thus mediating the interconversion pathway of pentose and glucose to improve the cold tolerance of Orah mandarin. The results help explore the characteristics and functions of <i>CrbHLH</i> genes and provide a basis for further research on the Orah mandarin resistance to low-temperature stress.
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spelling doaj-art-8650dd2bbda041e88b54388ff47aefa82025-08-20T01:48:49ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-03-0114688210.3390/plants14060882Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature StressChaoying Chen0Xulin Li1Ke Wen2Tuo Yin3Ping Tian4Ke Zhao5Li Zhang6Xianyan Zhou7Xiaozhen Liu8Hanyao Zhang9Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaKey Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaKey Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaYunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaYunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaYunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaYunnan Agricultural Technology Extension Station, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Tropical and Subtropical Economic Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaKey Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaYunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of In-forest Resources, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaAs the second largest family of transcription factors (TFs) in plants, basic helix–loop–helices (bHLHs) play key roles in regulating plant growth and development and responding to environmental stress. As the fastest growing <i>Citrus</i> variety in China in recent years, Orah mandarin has vital economic and nutritional value. Although a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the bHLH TF family has been performed in many plants, a systematic study of the genes of this family has not been carried out in Orah mandarin. In this study, 114 bHLH TFs were identified in Orah mandarin via genome-wide analysis and were classified into 27 subfamilies according to the evolutionary tree. The gene expression profile revealed that five genes were significantly upregulated at 12 h and 24 h after low-temperature stress treatment. In addition, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline contents increased with increasing low-temperature stress, which promoted the expression of the <i>CrbHLH46</i> gene, thus mediating the interconversion pathway of pentose and glucose to improve the cold tolerance of Orah mandarin. The results help explore the characteristics and functions of <i>CrbHLH</i> genes and provide a basis for further research on the Orah mandarin resistance to low-temperature stress.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/882Orah mandarinbHLH transcription factortranscriptomelow-temperature stressexpression pattern
spellingShingle Chaoying Chen
Xulin Li
Ke Wen
Tuo Yin
Ping Tian
Ke Zhao
Li Zhang
Xianyan Zhou
Xiaozhen Liu
Hanyao Zhang
Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
Plants
Orah mandarin
bHLH transcription factor
transcriptome
low-temperature stress
expression pattern
title Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
title_full Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
title_fullStr Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
title_full_unstemmed Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
title_short Identification of the bHLH Transcription Factor Family in Orah Mandarin and the Response of <i>CrbHLH46</i> to Low-Temperature Stress
title_sort identification of the bhlh transcription factor family in orah mandarin and the response of i crbhlh46 i to low temperature stress
topic Orah mandarin
bHLH transcription factor
transcriptome
low-temperature stress
expression pattern
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/6/882
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