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Genome-wide Analysis of the Snakin/GASA Gene Family in Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec

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Abstract

Snakin/GASA proteins have been involved in different aspects of plant growth and development although their exact role is still intriguing. All of them maintain 12 cysteines of the C-terminus in highly conserved positions that are responsible for their structure and are essential for their biochemical activity as antioxidants. Two members were isolated from Solanum tuberosum to date (Snakin-1 and Snakin-2) and were shown to have antimicrobial activity. We have recently demonstrated that Snakin-1 has additional roles in plant growth and development. We carried out a genome-wide search for new Snakin/GASA family members in potato. 16 Snakin/GASA genes were isolated, sequenced and characterized. Interestingly, we found in Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum cv. Kennebec that Snakin-1, Snakin-2 and Snakin-3 expression is affected by bacterial and/or fungal inoculation. These results strengthen the participation of Snakin-1 and Snakin-2 genes in biotic stress tolerance and suggest that Snakin-3 is also involved in plant defense. The data presented here could be a good starting point for more focused and deep investigations regarding the biological functions of potato Snakin/GASA genes during plant development and in response to environmental stress.

Resumen

A las proteínas Snakin/GASA se les ha involucrado en diferentes aspectos del crecimiento y desarrollo vegetal, aun cuando su papel exacto es intrigante. Todas mantienen doce cisteínas en el extremo C terminal, en posiciones altamente conservadas que son responsables de su estructura y son esenciales para su actividad bioquímica como antioxidantes. Se aislaron dos miembros de Solanum tuberosum a la fecha (Snakin-1 y Snakin-2) y se mostró que tienen actividad antimicrobiana. Recientemente hemos demostrado que Snakin-1 tiene funciones adicionales en el crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas. Hicimos una búsqueda de amplitud genómica de nuevos miembros de la familia Snakin/GASA en papa. Se aislaron, secuenciaron y caracterizaron 16 genes Snakin/GASA. Interesantemente, encontramos en Solanum tuberosum subesp. tuberosum cv. Kennebec, que la expresión de Snakin-1, Snakin-2 y Snakin-3 es afectada por inoculación bacteriana y/o fúngica. Estos resultados refuerzan la participación de los genes de Snakin-1 y Snakin-2 en tolerancia biótica al estrés y sugiere que Snakin-3 también esta involucrada en la defensa de la planta. Los datos que aquí se presentan pudieran ser un buen punto de partida para investigaciones más enfocadas y profundas en relación a las funciones biológicas de los genes Snakin/GASA de la papa durante el desarrollo de la planta y en respuesta al agobio ambiental.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by PEAEBIO 245001/711, PNBIO 1131022/3 (INTA), AECID D/024562/09 and PICT 2011-1377. We thank Julia Sabio for her invaluable help as English editor. Sequencing service and bioinformatics analyses were performed at National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Biotechnology Institute, Genomics Unit and Bioinformatics Unit respectively.

Author Contribution Statement

VN participated in the design of the study, carried out the molecular techniques and drafted the manuscript. MGU contributed to data interpretation and helped to draft the manuscript. MR participated in the design of the study and contributed to data interpretation. NP helped to draft the manuscript. HEH assisted in the interpretation of the results and contribute to writing the manuscript revising it critically. NIA contributed to data interpretation and helped to draft the manuscript. CVR conceived and coordinated the study, contributed to the work by the discussion of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biotecnología, CICVyA, CNIA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Repetto y De Los Reseros s/n, CP 1686, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Vanesa Nahirñak, Máximo Rivarola, Norma Paniego, Horacio Esteban Hopp, Natalia Inés Almasia & Cecilia Vazquez-Rovere

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Vanesa Nahirñak, Máximo Rivarola, Martín Gonzalez de Urreta, Norma Paniego & Cecilia Vazquez-Rovere

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  1. Vanesa Nahirñak
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  2. Máximo Rivarola
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  3. Martín Gonzalez de Urreta
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  4. Norma Paniego
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  5. Horacio Esteban Hopp
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  6. Natalia Inés Almasia
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  7. Cecilia Vazquez-Rovere
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Correspondence to Cecilia Vazquez-Rovere.

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Nahirñak, V., Rivarola, M., Gonzalez de Urreta, M. et al. Genome-wide Analysis of the Snakin/GASA Gene Family in Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec. Am. J. Potato Res. 93, 172–188 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-016-9494-8

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