title: Heat shock transcription factors expression during fruit development and under hot air stress in Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan) fruit.
abstract: Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play a role in plant responses to stress. Citrus is an economically important fruit whose genome has been fully sequenced. So far, no detailed characterization of the Hsf gene family is available for citrus. A genome-wide analysis was carried out in Citrus clementina to identify Hsf genes, named CcHsfs. Eighteen CcHsfs were identified and classified into three main clades (clades A, B and C) according to the structural characteristics and the phylogenetic comparison with Arabidopsis and tomato. MEME motif analysis highlighted the conserved DBD and HR-A/B domains, which were similar to Hsf protein structures in other species. Gene expression analysis in Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan) fruit identified 14 Hsf genes, named CrHsf, as important candidates for a role in fruit development and ripening, and showed seven genes to be expressed in response to hot air stress. CrHsfB2a and CrHsfB5 were considered to be important regulators of citrate content and showed variation in both developmentally-related and hot air-triggered citrate degradation processes. In summary, the data obtained from this investigation provides the basis for further study to dissect Hsf function during fruit development as well as in response to heat stress and also emphasizes the potential importance of CrHsfs in regulation of citrate metabolism in citrus fruit.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: linqiong@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: chongqingjiangqing@qq.com.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: 1156157546@qq.com.
authors.forename: Juanying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Quzhou Academy of Agricultural Science, Quzhou 324000, Zhejiang Province, PR China. Electronic address: 1335345870@qq.com.
authors.forename: Dengliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: 544194544@qq.com.
authors.forename: Shaojia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Quzhou Academy of Agricultural Science, Quzhou 324000, Zhejiang Province, PR China. Electronic address: qzlcr@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Chunrong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: adesun2006@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chongde
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, PR China. Electronic address: akun@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Kunsong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002957:Citrus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Fruit development; Heat shock factor; Heat stress; Ponkan