Abstract:Membrane transporters, such as aluminium-activated malate transporter (ALMTs) and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE), are encoded by key genes that confer plants resistance to aluminiumtoxicity. In this study, based on the full-length transcriptome data of Cunninghamia lanceolata, a total of 8 ALMT genes and 44 MATE genes were identified, which were classified into 3 and 4 subfamilies, respectively. Genes within the same subfamily shared similar conserved motifs and domains. Cis-acting element analysis revealed that the promoters of ALMT and MATE genes in C. lanceolata contained abundant hormone-responsive and stress-responsive elements. Further expression analysis indicated that some ALMT and MATE genes of C. lanceolata exhibited certain expression specificity in different tissues and organs. The expression levels of ClALMT3, ClALMT5, ClMATE15 and ClMATE34 were significantly induced by aluminium stress, suggesting their potential involvement in aluminiumtoxicity resistance of C. lanceolata. These results provide theoretical basis for further studies on the functions of ALMT and MATE genes in the aluminiumstress resistance process of C. lanceolata.
王御麟, 王小雅, 黄华宏, 林二培. 杉木ALMT和MATE基因家族鉴定及其在铝胁迫下的表达分析[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2026, 34(11): 2350-2366.
WANG Yu-Lin, WANG Xiao-Ya, HUANG Hua-Hong, LIN Er-Pei. Identification of ALMT and MATE Gene Family in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Their Expression Analysis Under Aluminium Stress. 农业生物技术学报, 2026, 34(11): 2350-2366.
[1] 罗红艳, 陈潇潇, 石零珊, 等. 2018. 不同耐铝型杉木幼苗叶片抗氧化系统对铝胁迫的响应特征[J]. 西北植物学报, 38(7): 1306-1314. (Luo H Y, Chen X X, Shi L S, et al.2018. Response characteristics of antioxidant system in leaves of different aluminum-tolerant Chinese fir seedlings to aluminum stress[J]. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 38(7): 1306-1314.) [2] 邱姗, 王文新, 江梅, 等. 2024. 杉木GRF和GIF基因家族鉴定、表达与互作分析[J]. 核农学报, 38(7): 1224-1233. (Qiu S, Wang W X, Jiang M, et al.2024. Identification, expression and interaction analysis of GRF and GIF gene families in Cunninghamia lanceolata[J]. Journal of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, 38(7): 1224-1233.) [3] Cardoso T B, Pinto R T, Paiva L V, et al.2020. Comprehensive characterization of the ALMT and MATE families on Populus trichocarpa and gene co-expression network analysis of its members during aluminium toxicity and phosphate starvation stresses[J]. 3Biotech, 10(11): 525. [4] Chen C, Wu Y, Li J, et al.2023. TBtools-Ⅱ: A "one for all, all for one" bioinformatics platform for biological big-data mining[J]. Molecular Plant, 16(11): 1733-1742. [5] Diener A C, Gaxiola R A, Fink G R.2001. Arabidopsis ALF5, a multidrug efflux transporter gene family member, confers resistance to toxins[J]. The Plant Cell, 13(7): 1625-1638. [6] Din I, Ullah I, Wang W, et al.2021. Genome-wide analysis, evolutionary history and response of ALMT family to phosphate starvation in Brassica napus[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(9): 4625. [7] Fontecha G, Silva-Navas J, Benito C, et al.2007. Candidate gene identification of an aluminum-activated organic acid transporter gene at the Alt4 locus for aluminum tolerance in rye (Secale cereale L.)[J]. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 114(2): 249-260. [8] Furukawa J, Yamaji N, Wang H, et al.2007. An aluminum-activated citrate transporter in barley[J]. Plant and Cell Physiology, 48(8): 1081-1091. [9] Gruber B D, Ryan P R, Richardson A E, et al.2010. HvALMT1 from barley is involved in the transport of organic anions[J]. Journal of Experimental Botany, 61(7): 1455-1467. [10] Hoekenga O A, Maron L G, Piñeros M A, et al.2006. AtALMT1, which encodes a malate transporter, is identified as one of several genes critical for aluminum tolerance in Arabidopsis[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 103(23): 9738-9743. [11] Hu X G, Zhuang H, Lin E, et al.2022. Full-length transcriptome sequencing and comparative transcriptomic analyses provide comprehensive insight into molecular mechanisms of cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in Cunninghamia lanceolata[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13: 883720. [12] Kochian L V, Piñeros M A, Liu J, et al.2015. Plant adaptation to acid soils: The molecular basis for crop aluminum resistance[J]. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 66(1): 571-598. [13] Kovermann P, Meyer S, Hörtensteiner S, et al.2007. The Arabidopsis vacuolar malate channel is a member of the ALMT family[J]. The Plant Journal, 52(6): 1169-1180. [14] Kumar S, Stecher G, Li M, et al.2018. MEGA X: Molecular evolutionary genetics analysis across computing platforms[J]. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 35(6): 1547-1549. [15] Lei G J, Yokosho K, Yamaji N, et al.2017. Two MATE transporters with different subcellular localization are involved in Al tolerance in buckwheat[J]. Plant and Cell Physiology, 58(12): 2179-2189. [16] Li L, He Z, Pandey G K, et al.2002. Functional cloning and characterization of a plant efflux carrier for multidrug and heavy metal detoxification[J]. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277(7): 5360-5368. [17] Li N, Meng H, Xing H, et al.2017. Genome-wide analysis of MATE transporters and molecular characterization of aluminum resistance in Populus[J]. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68(20): 5669-5683. [18] Li Y, He H, He L.2019. Genome-wide analysis of the MATE gene family in potato[J]. Molecular Biology Reports, 46(2): 403-414. [19] Li Z, Qian W, Qiu S, et al.2024. Identification and characterization of the WOX gene Family revealed two WUS clade members associated with embryo development in Cunninghamia lanceolata[J]. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 210: 108570. [20] Liang C, Piñeros M A, Tian J, et al.2013. Low pH, aluminum, and phosphorus coordinately regulate malate exudation through GmALMT1 to improve soybean adaptation to acid soils[J]. Plant Physiology, 161(3): 1347-1361. [21] Ligaba A, Katsuhara M, Ryan P R, et al.2006. The BnALMT1 and BnALMT2 genes from rape encode aluminum-activated malate transporters that enhance the aluminum resistance of plant cells[J]. Plant Physiology, 142(3): 1294-1303. [22] Liu J, Li Y, Wang W, et al.2016. Genome-wide analysis of MATE transporters and expression patterns of a subgroup of MATE genes in response to aluminum toxicity in soybean[J]. BMC Genomics, 17(1): 223. [23] Liu J, Magalhaes J V, Shaff J, et al.2009. Aluminum-activated citrate and malate transporters from the MATE and ALMT families function independently to confer Arabidopsis aluminum tolerance[J]. The Plant journal, 57(3): 389-399. [24] Liu J, Zhou M, Delhaize E, et al.2017. Altered expression of a malate-permeable anion channel, OsALMT4, disrupts mineral nutrition[J]. Plant Physiology, 175(4): 1745-1759. [25] Ma J F.2007. Syndrome of aluminum toxicity and diversity of aluminum resistance in higher plants[J]. International Review of Cytology, 264: 225-252. [26] Ma Q, Yi R, Li L, et al.2018. GsMATE encoding a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion transporter enhances aluminum tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana[J]. BMC Plant Biology, 18(1): 212. [27] Magalhaes J V, Liu J, Guimarães C T, et al.2007. A gene in the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family confers aluminum tolerance in sorghum[J]. Nature Genetics, 39(10): 1156-1161. [28] Maron L G, Piñeros M A, Guimarães C T, et al.2010. Two functionally distinct members of the MATE (multi-drug and toxic compound extrusion) family of transporters potentially underlie two major aluminum tolerance QTLs in maize[J]. The Plant journal, 61(5): 728-740. [29] Nogia P, Pati P K.2021. Plant secondary metabolite transporters: Diversity, functionality, and their modulation[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12: 758202. [30] Peng W, Wu W, Peng J, et al.2018. Characterization of the soybean GmALMT family genes and the function of GmALMT5 in response to phosphate starvation[J]. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 60(3): 216-231. [31] Sade H, Meriga B, Surapu V, et al.2016. Toxicity and tolerance of aluminum in plants: Tailoring plants to suit to acid soils[J]. Biometals, 29(2): 187-210. [32] Santos A L D, Chaves-Silva S, Yang L, et al.2017. Global analysis of the MATE gene family of metabolite transporters in tomato[J]. BMC Plant Biology, 17(1): 185. [33] Sasaki T, Yamamoto Y, Ezaki B, et al.2004. A wheat gene encoding an aluminum-activated malate transporter[J]. The Plant Journal, 37(5): 645-653. [34] Sharma T, Dreyer I, Kochian L, et al.2016. The ALMT family of organic acid transporters in plants and their involvement in detoxification and nutrient security[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7: 1488. [35] Shen H, Hou Y, Wang X, et al.2024. Genome-wide identification, expression analysis under abiotic stress and co-expression analysis of MATE gene family in Torreya grandis[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(7): 3859. [36] Shirasawa K, Mishima K, Hirakawa H, et al.2024. Haplotype-resolved de novo genome assemblies of four coniferous tree species[J]. Journal of Forest Research, 29(2): 151-157. [37] Tiwari M, Sharma D, Singh M, et al.2014. Expression of OsMATE1 and OsMATE2 alters development, stress responses and pathogen susceptibility in Arabidopsis[J]. Scientific Reports, 4: 3964. [38] Tripathi A, Singh D, Bhati J, et al.2025. Genome wide identification of MATE and ALMT gene family in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) and expression profiling under Al stress condition[J]. BMC Plant Biology, 25(1): 88. [39] Ur Rahman S, Han J, Ahmad M, et al.2024. Aluminum phytotoxicity in acidic environments: A comprehensive review of plant tolerance and adaptation strategies[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 269(1): 115791. [40] Xu S, Wei J, Wang X, et al.2025. Phenolic compounds enhance aluminum tolerance in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) by regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis and cell wall properties under aluminum stress[J]. Plants, 14(17): 2658. [41] Yang L, Liu T, Li H, et al.2026. Functional divergence of ALMTs mediates organic acid transport and callose synthesis for aluminum tolerance in rose myrtle[J]. Plant Physiology, 200(1): kiaf655. [42] Zhang W, Liao L, Xu J, et al.2021. Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of MATE family genes in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh)[J]. BMC Genomics, 22(1): 632. [43] Zhang X, Kirschbaum M U F, Hou Z, et al.2004. Carbon stock changes in successive rotations of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) plantations[J]. Forest Ecology and Management, 202(1-3): 131-147. [44] Zhuang H, Chong S L, Priyanka B, et al.2021. Full-length transcriptomic identification of R2R3-MYB family genes related to secondary cell wall development in Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir)[J]. BMC Plant Biology, 21(1): 581.