Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam

Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (<i>SWEET</i>) genes play an important regulatory role in plants’ growth and development, stress response, and sugar metabolism, but there are few reports on the role of SWEET proteins in sweet potato. In this study, nine <i>IbSWEET<...

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Main Authors: Jingli Huang, Xuezhen Fu, Wenyan Li, Zhongwang Ni, Yanwen Zhao, Pinggang Zhang, Aiqin Wang, Dong Xiao, Jie Zhan, Longfei He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16615
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author Jingli Huang
Xuezhen Fu
Wenyan Li
Zhongwang Ni
Yanwen Zhao
Pinggang Zhang
Aiqin Wang
Dong Xiao
Jie Zhan
Longfei He
author_facet Jingli Huang
Xuezhen Fu
Wenyan Li
Zhongwang Ni
Yanwen Zhao
Pinggang Zhang
Aiqin Wang
Dong Xiao
Jie Zhan
Longfei He
author_sort Jingli Huang
collection DOAJ
description Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (<i>SWEET</i>) genes play an important regulatory role in plants’ growth and development, stress response, and sugar metabolism, but there are few reports on the role of SWEET proteins in sweet potato. In this study, nine <i>IbSWEET</i> genes were obtained via PCR amplification from the cDNA of sweet potato. Phylogenetic analysis showed that nine IbSWEETs separately belong to four clades (Clade I~IV) and contain two MtN3/saliva domains or PQ-loop superfamily and six~seven transmembrane domains. Protein interaction prediction showed that seven SWEETs interact with other proteins, and SWEETs interact with each other (SWEET1 and SWEET12; SWEET2 and SWEET17) to form heterodimers. qRT-PCR analysis showed that <i>IbSWEETs</i> were tissue-specific, and <i>IbSWEET1b</i> was highly expressed during root growth and development. In addition to high expression in leaves, <i>IbSWEET15</i> was also highly expressed during root expansion, and <i>IbSWEET7</i>, <i>10a</i>, <i>10b</i>, and <i>12</i> showed higher expression in the leaves. The expression of <i>SWEETs</i> showed a significant positive/negative correlation with the content of soluble sugar and starch in storage roots. Under abiotic stress treatment, <i>IbSWEET7</i> showed a strong response to PEG treatment, while <i>IbSWEET10a</i>, <i>10b</i>, and <i>12</i> responded significantly to 4 °C treatment and, also, at 1 h after ABA, to NaCl treatment. A yeast mutant complementation assay showed that IbSWEET7 had fructose, mannose, and glucose transport activity; IbSWEET15 had glucose transport activity and weaker sucrose transport activity; and all nine IbSWEETs could transport 2-deoxyglucose. These results provide a basis for further elucidating the functions of <i>SWEET</i> genes and promoting molecular breeding in sweet potato.
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spelling doaj.art-3b110540999e43b3bbc92bc42e181c2b2023-12-08T15:16:32ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-11-0124231661510.3390/ijms242316615Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) LamJingli Huang0Xuezhen Fu1Wenyan Li2Zhongwang Ni3Yanwen Zhao4Pinggang Zhang5Aiqin Wang6Dong Xiao7Jie Zhan8Longfei He9College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaAgricultural and Animal Husbandry Industry Development Research Institute, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaSugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (<i>SWEET</i>) genes play an important regulatory role in plants’ growth and development, stress response, and sugar metabolism, but there are few reports on the role of SWEET proteins in sweet potato. In this study, nine <i>IbSWEET</i> genes were obtained via PCR amplification from the cDNA of sweet potato. Phylogenetic analysis showed that nine IbSWEETs separately belong to four clades (Clade I~IV) and contain two MtN3/saliva domains or PQ-loop superfamily and six~seven transmembrane domains. Protein interaction prediction showed that seven SWEETs interact with other proteins, and SWEETs interact with each other (SWEET1 and SWEET12; SWEET2 and SWEET17) to form heterodimers. qRT-PCR analysis showed that <i>IbSWEETs</i> were tissue-specific, and <i>IbSWEET1b</i> was highly expressed during root growth and development. In addition to high expression in leaves, <i>IbSWEET15</i> was also highly expressed during root expansion, and <i>IbSWEET7</i>, <i>10a</i>, <i>10b</i>, and <i>12</i> showed higher expression in the leaves. The expression of <i>SWEETs</i> showed a significant positive/negative correlation with the content of soluble sugar and starch in storage roots. Under abiotic stress treatment, <i>IbSWEET7</i> showed a strong response to PEG treatment, while <i>IbSWEET10a</i>, <i>10b</i>, and <i>12</i> responded significantly to 4 °C treatment and, also, at 1 h after ABA, to NaCl treatment. A yeast mutant complementation assay showed that IbSWEET7 had fructose, mannose, and glucose transport activity; IbSWEET15 had glucose transport activity and weaker sucrose transport activity; and all nine IbSWEETs could transport 2-deoxyglucose. These results provide a basis for further elucidating the functions of <i>SWEET</i> genes and promoting molecular breeding in sweet potato.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16615<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>SWEETexpression analysisprotein interactionabiotic stress
spellingShingle Jingli Huang
Xuezhen Fu
Wenyan Li
Zhongwang Ni
Yanwen Zhao
Pinggang Zhang
Aiqin Wang
Dong Xiao
Jie Zhan
Longfei He
Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>
SWEET
expression analysis
protein interaction
abiotic stress
title Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
title_full Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
title_fullStr Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
title_short Molecular Cloning, Expression Analysis, and Functional Analysis of Nine <i>IbSWEETs</i> in <i>Ipomoea batatas</i> (L.) Lam
title_sort molecular cloning expression analysis and functional analysis of nine i ibsweets i in i ipomoea batatas i l lam
topic <i>Ipomoea batatas</i>
SWEET
expression analysis
protein interaction
abiotic stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/23/16615
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