Comprehensive <i>In Silico</i> Analysis of the <i>NHX</i> (Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> Antiporter) Gene in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)
The Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> antiporter (<i>NHX</i>) gene family plays a pivotal role in plant salt tolerance in regulating intracellular Na<sup>+</sup> and H<sup>+</sup> homeostasis. In this study, seven candidate <i>OsNHX</i&...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Plant Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/1/6 |
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| Summary: | The Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> antiporter (<i>NHX</i>) gene family plays a pivotal role in plant salt tolerance in regulating intracellular Na<sup>+</sup> and H<sup>+</sup> homeostasis. In this study, seven candidate <i>OsNHX</i> genes (<i>OsNHX1</i> to <i>OsNHX7</i>) were identified in the rice genome and classified into three phylogenetic clusters (Vac, Endo, and PM) based on their predicted subcellular localization. Five <i>OsNHX</i> gene pairs (<i>OsNHX1/OsNHX2</i>, <i>OsNHX1/OsNHX3</i>, <i>OsNHX1/OsNHX4</i>, <i>OsNHX2/OsNHX6</i>, and <i>OsNHX5/OsNHX6</i>) were found to have arisen from dispersed duplication events and exhibited purifying selection, indicating functional conservation. Analysis of <i>cis</i>-regulatory elements (CREs) revealed a diverse range of elements associated with tissue-specific expression, hormone signaling, and stress responses, particularly to dehydration and salinity. Notably, CREs associated with tissue/organelle-specific expression and stress responses were the most abundant, suggesting a potential role for <i>OsNHX</i> genes in regulating growth, development, and stress tolerance in rice. Importantly, expression profiling revealed that <i>OsNHX1</i>, <i>OsNHX2</i>, <i>OsNHX3</i>, and <i>OsNHX5</i> were upregulated under salt stress, with significantly higher expression levels in the salt-tolerant rice cultivar Pokkali compared to the salt-sensitive cultivar IR64. Our findings provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary, structural, and functional features of the <i>OsNHX</i> gene family and highlights their critical role in rice salt tolerance, offering insights into potential applications for crop improvement. |
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| ISSN: | 2037-0164 |