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Comparative analysis of VMT genes/proteins in selected plant species with emphasis on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

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Abstract

Background

In recent years, the study of molecular basis of uptake, transport and utilization of grain Fe/Zn (GFe/GZn) in wheat has been an active area of research. As a result, it has been shown that a number of transporters are involved in uptake and transport of Fe. In a recent study, knockout of a transporter gene OsVMT (VACUOLAR MUGINEIC ACID TRANSPORTER) in rice was shown to be involved in Fe homoeostasis.

Objective

In this study, we analysed VMT genes among six monocots and three dicots with major emphasis on wheat VMT genes (TaVMTs), taking OsVMT gene as a reference.

Methods and results

Using OsVMT gene as a reference, VMT genes were identified and sequence similarities were examined among six monocots and three dicots. Each VMT protein carried one functional domain and 7 to 10 distinct motifs (including 9 novel motifs). The qRT-PCR analysis showed differential expression by all the six TaVMT genes in pairs of contrasting wheat genotypes with high (FAR4 and WB02) and low (K8027 and HD3226) GFe/GZn at two different grain filling stages (14 DAA and 28 DAA). TaVMT1 genes showed up-regulation in high GFe/Zn genotypes relative to low GFe/Zn genotypes, whereas the TaVMT2 genes showed down-regulation or nonsignificant up-regulation in a few cases.

Conclusions

At 14 DAA, each of the six TaVMT genes exhibited higher expression in wheat genotypes with high GFe and GZn relative to those with low GFe and GZn, suggesting major role of VMT genes in improvement of grain Fe/Zn homoeostasis, thus making TaVMT genes useful for improvement in Fe/Zn in wheat grains.

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Acknowledgements

The present study is a part of research being conducted with funds received from the Centre of Excellence Scheme of Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, India. HSB held the positions of INSA Honorary Scientist during the present study. The Head, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut provided necessary facilities for this study.

Funding

Funds received from the Centre of Excellence Scheme of Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Sanction Letter Number: 70/2022/1543/Sattar-4-2022/001-70-4099-7-2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP, India

    Hemant Sharma, Rahul Kumar, Deepa Bhadana, Ritu Batra, Rakhi Singh, Sachin Kumar, Harindra S. Balyan & Pushpendra K. Gupta

  2. Multanimal Modi College, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, UP, India

    Shayaba

  3. National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Jitendra Kumar & Joy K Roy

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  1. Hemant Sharma
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Contributions

RK, PKG, HSB and SK planned this study. HS, S and DB retrieved data, conducted computational analysis. JK and JKR provided the cDNA of parental genotype, HS, R conducted expression analysis and HS and RK wrote the first draft of the manuscript. PKG, HSB, RK, SK and RB critically revised and edited the manuscript. All authors have read and agree to the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rahul Kumar.

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Sharma, H., Shayaba, Kumar, R. et al. Comparative analysis of VMT genes/proteins in selected plant species with emphasis on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Genes Genom 45, 1445–1461 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-023-01427-0

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