Identification and Expression Analysis of CHS Gene Family in Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
LI Cui-Ling1, YANG Cheng-Kun1,3, LIU Jia-Ming1, QIAN Min-Jie1,3, CUI Zhi-Fu2, LIU Yao-Ting2,*
1 School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Danzhou 571737, China; 2 Hainan Agricultural Reclamation Science Research Institute Group Co., Ltd., Sanya 572025, China; 3 Baoting Research Institute, Hainan University, Baoting 572399, China
Abstract：Flavonoids are important bioactive secondary metabolites in plants, playing crucial roles in fruit quality and resistance to pests and diseases. Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the first key rate-limiting enzyme in the flavonoid pathway but has not been comprehensively characterized in rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). This study identified the CHS family of rambutan and analyzed its structural characteristics. The results showed that 5 members of the CHS family were identified in the genome of rambutan and named NlCHS1~ NlCHS5, all NlCHSs were located in the cytoplasm. Except for NlCHS1 which was an alkaline protein, the others were acidic and hydrophilic proteins. All except NlCHS4 were unstable proteins. Phylogenetic analysis classified the NlCHSs into 2 subfamilies, with members of the same subfamily sharing similar conserved motifs, conserved domains, and gene structures. All members contained the Chal_sti_synt_N and Chal_sti_synt_C domains; however, NlCHS1 and NlCHS3 lack some conserved motifs and domains and contain 2 introns within their gene structures (The remaining members contained only 1 intron). Chromosomal localization analysis revealed that the 5 NlCHS genes were located on Chr5, Chr6, Chr7, Chr9, and Chr12, respectively. The promoter regions of each member contained numerous light-responsive cis-elements; notably, the NlCHS4 promoter region contained a greater number of G-box and MRE elements compared to other members. Expression analysis across different cultivars, fruit tissues, and developmental stages demonstrated that the expression of NlCHS4 was highly correlated with flavonoid content in both the pericarp and aril of rambutan fruit. This suggested that NlCHS4 was a key member involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in rambutan. This study provides a certain foundation for further research on the synthesis regulation of anthocyanins in rambutan.
李萃玲, 杨成坤, 刘嘉铭, 钱敏杰, 崔志富, 刘耀婷. 红毛丹CHS家族的鉴定及其在果实中的表达分析[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(11): 2378-2390.
LI Cui-Ling, YANG Cheng-Kun, LIU Jia-Ming, QIAN Min-Jie, CUI Zhi-Fu, LIU Yao-Ting. Identification and Expression Analysis of CHS Gene Family in Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(11): 2378-2390.
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