Genome-wide identification of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) aquaporin genes and their response to ethephon stimulation in the laticifer, a rubber-producing tissue

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2152-6
• Publication Date: 2015-11-25T06:54:29Z
• Authors: Zhi Zou; Jun Gong; Feng An; Guishui Xie; Jikun Wang; Yeyong Mo; Lifu Yang
• Keywords: Hevea

Natural rubber, an important industrial raw material, is specifically synthesized in laticifers located inside the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) trunk. Due to absence of plasmodesmata, laticifer water balance mediated by aquaporins (AQPs). However, date, characterization H. AQPs (HbAQPs) still its infancy. In this study, 51 full-length AQP genes were identified from genome. The phylogenetic analysis assigned these five subfamilies, including 15 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs), 17 tonoplast (TIPs), 9 NOD26-like (NIPs), 4 small basic (SIPs) and 6 X (XIPs). Functional prediction based on aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter, Froger's positions specificity-determining (SDPs) showed a remarkable difference substrate specificity among subfamilies. Homology supported expression 44 HbAQP at least one examined tissues. Furthermore, deep sequencing transcriptome form latex revealed key role several PIP subfamily members balance, qRT-PCR diverse patterns laticifer-expressed upon ethephon treatment, widely-used practice for stimulation yield. This study provides genetic resource genes, which will be useful improve use efficiency yield Hevea.