title: Genome-Wide Analysis of the Sucrose Synthase Gene Family in Grape (Vitis vinifera): Structure, Evolution, and Expression Profiles.
abstract: Sucrose synthase (SS) is widely considered as the key enzyme involved in the plant sugar metabolism that is critical to plant growth and development, especially quality of the fruit. The members of SS gene family have been identified and characterized in multiple plant genomes. However, detailed information about this gene family is lacking in grapevine (Vitis viniferaL.). In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of the grape (V. vinifera) genome and reported that there are fiveSS genes (VvSS1-5) in the grape genome. Comparison of the structures of grape SS genes showed high structural conservation of grapeSS genes, resulting from the selection pressures during the evolutionary process. The segmental duplication of grape SS genes contributed to this gene family expansion. The syntenic analyses between grape and soybean (Glycine max) demonstrated that these genes located in corresponding syntenic blocks arose before the divergence of grape and soybean. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary paths for the grapeSS genes. VvSS1/VvSS5, VvSS2/VvSS3 and VvSS4 originated from three ancientSS genes, which were generated by duplication events before the split of monocots and eudicots. Bioinformatics analysis of publicly available microarray data, which was validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), revealed distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns ofVvSS genes in various tissues, organs and developmental stages, as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Taken together, our results will be beneficial for further investigations into the functions ofSS gene in the processes of grape resistance to environmental stresses.
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. 2014204002@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. 2014104015@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Mengqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. 2014204003@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. 2015204003@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. wangchen@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1 hao, 210095 Nanjing, China. fanggg@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinggui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
keywords: expression profile; grapevine; phylogenetic tree; sucrose synthase; syntenic analysis