The CBL and CIPK Gene Family in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus): Genome-Wide Analysis and Expression Profiles in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses
摘要
The calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) act as Ca2+ sensors and play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and response to environmental stresses by interacting with CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). Although CBL and CIPK gene families have been well studied in many plant species, little is known about them in Cucumis sativus. In this study, seven CBLs and 19 CIPKs were identified in cucumber. Phylogenetic analysis classified the cucumber CBL and CIPK into four and five groups, respectively. The gene structure analysis showed that the CIPKs can be divided into two groups: an intron-poor (≤ 3 introns) group and an intron-rich (≥ 11 introns) group, indicating that intron acquisition and loss drove the evolution of CIPKs. Both tandem and segmental duplications have contributed to the expansion of the CBLs and CIPKs in cucumber. Expression profile analysis across 12 tissues revealed that most CBLs and CIPKs exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns, whereas CsCIPK14 was undetectable in any tissues, indicating a loss of expression. Additionally, the qRT-PCR results revealed that many CBL and CIPK genes were differentially regulated under various biotic and abiotic stresses, underscoring their significant roles in stress signaling. In conclusion, our study provided the first comprehensive overview of the CBL and CIPK genes in cucumber, laying a foundation for functional research of calcium-dependent signaling in Cucurbitaceae species.