Expression Profiling of HMAs under Heavy Metal Stress in Triticum aestivum

Abstract

As a staple crop, Triticum aestivum meets all dietary needs for human health while also playing a crucial role in the food chain for the consumption of contaminants by both humans and livestock. As a result, the presence of heavy metals in soil, such as cadmium (Cd), not only decreases the productivity of wheat crops but also puts human and animal health at risk. P-type ATPases are a wide family of membrane proteins that transport ions across biological membranes. The P-type ATPase family is classified into five major evolutionary related subfamilies, P1-P5, that form a phylogenetic tree based on the ions they transport. The energy-producing ATP hydrolysis in these proteins is linked to ion transport of one or two ion species across the relevant membrane. P1B-type ATPase, also known as HMAs, is an essential P-type ATPase family member involved in the absorption and pumping of metal ions into plant cells. In the present study, the in-silico analysis revealed the detailed cellular and biological functions of P-type ATPases, their chromosomal locations, as well as their sub-cellular localizations. The in silico cis-regulatory element study revealed a wide range of functions related to light, stress, and hormone responsiveness, as well as endosperm and meristem-specific gene expression. Cadmium chloride (CdCl2) concentrations of 200 µM and 250 µM were added for moderate and toxic treatment, respectively. ANOVA analysis of phenotypic data obtained across different treatment durations revealed non-significant effects when compared to the control groups. The expression analysis of HMAs by qRT-PCR significantly increased under cadmium stress in toxic roots and shoots as compared to the control. The HMA1.1 in toxic shoots showed the non-significant result. This study advances knowledge of the biological functions and evolutionary history of wheat P-type ATPase superfamily genes.