Genome-Wide Analyses of Aspartic Proteases on Potato Genome (Solanum tuberosum): Generating New Tools to Improve the Resistance of Plants to Abiotic Stress

NORERO NATALIA SIGRID; MARIA FLORENCIA REY BURUSCO; SEBASTIÁN D´IPPOLITO; CECILIA DÉCIMA ONETO; MASSA GABRIELA ALEJANDRA; CASTELLOTE, MARTÍN ALFREDO; FEINGOLD SERGIO ENRIQUE; GABRIELA GUEVARA

Plants

MDPI

Año: 2022

2223-7747

Aspartic proteases are proteolytic enzymes widely distributed in living organisms and viruses. Although they have been extensively studied in plant species, they are poorly described in the potato genome. The aim of the present study was to identify and characterize S. tuberosum aspartic proteases. We analyzed gene structure, chromosome and protein domain organization, phylogeny, subcellular predicted localization, and integrated these with RNAseq data analyses from different tissues, organs and conditions focused on abiotic stress. In addition, hormonal and biotic stress treatments were analyzed. Sixty two aspartic protease genes were retrieved from the potato genome, distributed in 12 chromosomes. A high number of intronless genes, segmental and tandem duplications were detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 8 StAPs groups named from StAPI to StAPVIII that were differentiated into typical (StAPI), nucellin-like (StAPIIIa) and atypical aspartic proteases (StAPII, StAPIIIb to StAPVIII). RNAseq data analyses revealed that gene expression was consistent with the presence of cis-acting regulatory elements on StAP promoter regions related to water deficit. The study presents the first identification and characterization of 62 aspartic protease genes and proteins on the potato genome, and provides raw material for functional gene determinations and for potato breeding programs including gene editing mediated by CRISPR.