Genome-wide characterization of the RCI2 gene family reveals conserved protein features and divergent responses to salt and osmotic stress in pea
- 1Biotechnology Research Institute, Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences
- 2Tianjin Customs Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center
Abstract
Introduction: Salinity and drought are major abiotic stresses limiting pea ( Pisum sativum L. ) growth and productivity. The RCI2 family has been implicated in plant responses to environmental stress, but its characteristics and potential roles in pea remain insufficiently understood.
Methods: Six PsRCI2 genes were identified and characterized using phylogenetic, gene structure, promoter, transcriptomic, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and subcellular localization analyses.
Results: PsRCI2-2 to PsRCI2-5 formed a gene cluster on chromosome 3, whereas no clear intragenomic collinear pairs were detected. Most PsRCI2 proteins showed conserved sequence and transmembrane features, whereas PsRCI2-6 exhibited distinct structural characteristics. Promoter analysis revealed diverse stress- and hormone-responsive cis-acting elements among family members. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential transcriptional responses to salt and PEG-induced osmotic stress. Notably, PsRCI2-2 , PsRCI2-3 , and PsRCI2-5 were induced by both treatments, and their expression patterns were validated by qRT-PCR. These three proteins also exhibited fluorescence patterns largely overlapping with the ER marker in Nicotiana benthamiana .
Discussion: The pea RCI2 family displays conserved structural features but divergent transcriptional responses. PsRCI2-2 , PsRCI2-3 , and PsRCI2-5 are promising candidates for further functional studies investigating pea responses to abiotic stress.
Related
- Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals conserved injury responses and divergent molecular responses underlying early regenerative competence following traumatic brain injury
- Multi-omics Reveals Divergent Endothelial Molecular Responses to New and Old World Hantaviruses
- Proteomics reveals conserved features of histone biology in dinoflagellates
- Comparative genomics of seven Tenacibaculum maritimum isolates from farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), and lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in Canada and Norway reveals conserved features
- A Trisomy 21 Model Atlas reveals conserved dosage effects and context-specific transcriptional responses across mouse and human models of Down syndrome
BibTeX
@article{zhang2026genomewide,
title = {{Genome-wide characterization of the RCI2 gene family reveals conserved protein features and divergent responses to salt and osmotic stress in pea}},
author = {Mingyuan Zhang and Yongdong Dai and Rui Yang and Hongjuan Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.2003888},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.2003888/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genome-wide characterization of the RCI2 gene family reveals conserved protein features and divergent responses to salt and osmotic stress in pea
AU - Mingyuan Zhang
AU - Yongdong Dai
AU - Rui Yang
AU - Hongjuan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.2003888
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.2003888/full
AB - Introduction: Salinity and drought are major abiotic stresses limiting pea ( Pisum sativum L. ) growth and productivity. The RCI2 family has been implicated in plant responses to environmental stress, but its characteristics and potential roles in pea remain insufficiently understood. Methods: Six PsRCI2 genes were identified and characterized using phylogenetic, gene structure, promoter, transcriptomic, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and subcellular localization analyses. Results: PsRCI2-2 to PsRCI2-5 formed a gene cluster on chromosome 3, whereas no clear intragenomic collinear pairs were detected. Most PsRCI2 proteins showed conserved sequence and transmembrane features, whereas PsRCI2-6 exhibited distinct structural characteristics. Promoter analysis revealed diverse stress- and hormone-responsive cis-acting elements among family members. Transcriptome analysis revealed differential transcriptional responses to salt and PEG-induced osmotic stress. Notably, PsRCI2-2 , PsRCI2-3 , and PsRCI2-5 were induced by both treatments, and their expression patterns were validated by qRT-PCR. These three proteins also exhibited fluorescence patterns largely overlapping with the ER marker in Nicotiana benthamiana . Discussion: The pea RCI2 family displays conserved structural features but divergent transcriptional responses. PsRCI2-2 , PsRCI2-3 , and PsRCI2-5 are promising candidates for further functional studies investigating pea responses to abiotic stress.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -