Tracing the path from conservation to expansion evolutionary insights into NLR genes in oleaceae

• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-06233-2
• Publication Date: 2025-02-26T02:52:56Z
• Authors: Saba Parvez; Maryam Asif; Alizay Ahmad; Iqra Javaid; Muhammad Zaman Ra...; Romana Iftikhar; Nada H. Aljarba; Rabia Zafar; Aqsa sarwar; Rao Sohail Ahmed ...; Saad Serfraz
• Keywords: Oleaceae; Tracing

The Oleaceae family, encompassing key genera such as Fraxinus (ash trees), Olea (olives), Jasminum (jasmine), Syringa (lilac), and Forsythia, plays a crucial ecological economic role. Despite their importance, the evolutionary dynamics immune system adaptations of NLR (Nucleotide binding leucine-rich repeats) gene family remain largely unexplored. This study employs high-throughput comparative genomics to investigate evolution across family. genus is widely distributed both New Old Worlds, with 23 distinct species analyzed in this study. Our results reveal predominant strategy conservation these species. Geographical adaptation has played significant role, particularly World ash tree species, which exhibit dynamic patterns expansion contraction within last 50 million years. Notably, genes acquired from an ancient whole genome duplication event (~ 35 Mya) have been retained lineages. In contrast, (olives) undergone extensive driven by recent duplications birth novel families. These differences likely enhance Olea's ability recognize diverse pathogens through expansions, while maintains specialized responses conserved genes, potential trade-offs pathogen energy efficiency. terms distribution, all show enhanced pseudogenization TIR-NLRs CCG10-NLR. However, RNA-seq expression analysis olive suggests that partial despite incomplete structure, may play important roles plant responses. provides comprehensive offering insights into adaptive mechanisms response genera.