Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of the TIFY Gene Family Associated with Abiotic Stress and Hormone Response in Carthamus tinctorius L.
- 1Institute of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- 2Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, Institute of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Abstract
Jasmonate-ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins act as core negative regulators of jasmonic acid signaling and mediate plant stress adaptation, developmental progression, and secondary metabolism. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an economically important Asteraceae crop with medicinal, edible oil, and ornamental values; however, the evolutionary characteristics and molecular functions of its TIFY gene family remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide identification of the safflower CtTIFY family, followed by systematic analyses of phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distribution, gene synteny, structural features, conserved motifs, and promoter cis-regulatory elements. Transcriptome profiling, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation under multiple abiotic stresses and methyl jasmonate treatment, and subcellular localization assays were further conducted to explore divergence in transcript expression levels among family members. A total of 14 CtTIFY genes were identified and categorized into three subfamilies: JAZ, TIFY, and ZML. Segmental duplication was the primary driving force for CtTIFY family expansion, and distinct structural and physicochemical divergences were detected among different subfamilies. CtTIFY genes harbor abundant cis-elements responsive to stresses, hormones, and light signals, and exhibit transcriptional correlations with safflower floral development, seed germination, and seed-oil accumulation. Among them, CtJAZ1, CtJAZ6, and CtJAZ7 represent key candidate genes showing transcriptional responses to JA signals and multiple abiotic stresses. Subcellular localization showed that CtTIFY proteins are predominantly nuclear-localized with potential nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. This study systematically characterizes the evolutionary dynamics and divergence in expression levels of the safflower CtTIFY family, identifies candidate genes associated with stress response and quality-related processes, and provides fundamental genetic resources for future safflower molecular-breeding research.
Related
- Phytochemical Variations in Spiny and Spineless Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Phenotypes
- Growth, Heavy Metal Accumulation, and Translocation in Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Under Severe Cd and Pb Contamination in an Alkaline Soil
- Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of the Carboxylesterase (CXE) Gene Family in Melon (Cucumis melo L.): CmCXE7 as a Cold-Responsive Regulator of Ester Metabolism
- Genome-Wide Identification of the ZmNF-Y Transcription Factor Family in Maize and Functional Characterization of ZmNF-YA7 in Drought Tolerance
- Genome-wide identification of the BCAT gene family in Zygophyllum brachypterum and functional characterization of ZbBCAT2 in salt stress response
BibTeX
@article{wang2026genomewide,
title = {{Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of the TIFY Gene Family Associated with Abiotic Stress and Hormone Response in Carthamus tinctorius L.}},
author = {Lina Wang and Lei Li and Xiaoyu Su and Yiwen Cao and Dandan Lu and Yaling Yang and Yao Sun and Mengfan Su and Chunming Li and Yongliang Yu and Zhengwei Tan and Huizhen Liang},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27198752},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13664998},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of the TIFY Gene Family Associated with Abiotic Stress and Hormone Response in Carthamus tinctorius L.
AU - Lina Wang
AU - Lei Li
AU - Xiaoyu Su
AU - Yiwen Cao
AU - Dandan Lu
AU - Yaling Yang
AU - Yao Sun
AU - Mengfan Su
AU - Chunming Li
AU - Yongliang Yu
AU - Zhengwei Tan
AU - Huizhen Liang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - International journal of molecular sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27198752
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13664998
AB - Jasmonate-ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins act as core negative regulators of jasmonic acid signaling and mediate plant stress adaptation, developmental progression, and secondary metabolism. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an economically important Asteraceae crop with medicinal, edible oil, and ornamental values; however, the evolutionary characteristics and molecular functions of its TIFY gene family remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide identification of the safflower CtTIFY family, followed by systematic analyses of phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distribution, gene synteny, structural features, conserved motifs, and promoter cis-regulatory elements. Transcriptome profiling, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation under multiple abiotic stresses and methyl jasmonate treatment, and subcellular localization assays were further conducted to explore divergence in transcript expression levels among family members. A total of 14 CtTIFY genes were identified and categorized into three subfamilies: JAZ, TIFY, and ZML. Segmental duplication was the primary driving force for CtTIFY family expansion, and distinct structural and physicochemical divergences were detected among different subfamilies. CtTIFY genes harbor abundant cis-elements responsive to stresses, hormones, and light signals, and exhibit transcriptional correlations with safflower floral development, seed germination, and seed-oil accumulation. Among them, CtJAZ1, CtJAZ6, and CtJAZ7 represent key candidate genes showing transcriptional responses to JA signals and multiple abiotic stresses. Subcellular localization showed that CtTIFY proteins are predominantly nuclear-localized with potential nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. This study systematically characterizes the evolutionary dynamics and divergence in expression levels of the safflower CtTIFY family, identifies candidate genes associated with stress response and quality-related processes, and provides fundamental genetic resources for future safflower molecular-breeding research.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -