Open Access

ARTICLE

The Expression Characteristics and Potential Functions of Heat Shock Factors in Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Yanhuan Lin^1,#, Jiaxin Feng^2,#, Hao Fang², Wei Huang², Kanglie Guo², Xiyan Liu², Shuqi Wang², Xiaojuan Liu^2,*

1 Zhangzhou Institute of Technology, Zhangzhou, 363000, China
2 Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, College of Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China

* Corresponding Author: Xiaojuan Liu. Email:
# These authors contributed equally to this work

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(10), 2583-2596. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.055616

Received 02 July 2024; Accepted 03 September 2024; Issue published 30 October 2024

Abstract

Heat shock transcription factor (HSF) are essential regulators of heat shock protein (HSP) gene expression in plants and algae, contributing to their resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the localization, structure, phylogenetic relationship, and characteristics of PtHSF genes in microalgae, especially in diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, remain largely unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the PtHSF gene family in P. tricornutum. A genome-wide analysis identified 68 PtHSF genes, which were classified into two distinct subfamilies: traditional and untraditional. Motif and structure analyses revealed evidence of multiple duplication events within the PtHSF gene family. Expression profiling revealed diurnal patterns, with 34 genes being downregulated during the light period and upregulated during the dark period, while 19 genes exhibited the opposite pattern. These findings suggest that PtHSF genes may have specialized functions during the diurnal cycle and play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis in response to various stresses. Notably, PtHSF16, 30, and 43 genes exhibited higher expression levels, suggesting their potential importance. This study provides a valuable foundation for future investigations into the specific functions of HSFs under different stress conditions and their regulatory mechanisms in P. tricornutum and other microalgae.

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Keywords

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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