Identification of the EIL Gene Family in Panax ginseng and Its Expression Analysis under Heavy Metal Stress

doi:10.15933/j.cnki.1004-3268.2026.05.007

Abstract

Abstract: EIL（Ethylene‐insensitive3）transcription factors were core regulatory factors in plant ethylene signal transduction and stress response，involved in various physiological and biochemical processes in plants.To elucidate the distribution and function of the EIL family in Panax ginseng，PgEIL gene family members were screened based on the Panax ginseng genome，and their protein properties，phylogenetic relationships，gene structures，tissue expression patterns，etc. were analyzed through bioinformatics.The results showed that a total of 11 PgEIL genes were screened，and the physicochemical property prediction analysis showed that they were acidic hydrophilic unstable nucleoproteins. PgEIL genes were unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes and exhibited 6 pairs of linear relationships.The PgEIL genes had a highly conserved EIN3 domain，and all contained Motif2，Motif5，and Motif9 conserved motifs.Phylogenetic analysis showed that the PgEIL genes could be divided into three different evolutionary branches，and members of the same branch exhibited similar characteristics，such as PgEIL3 and PgEIL4.The promoter regions of PgEIL genes were rich in hormone，stress，and light response elements，and all contained light response elements. The transcriptome data analysis results showed that the PgEIL genes had typical tissue expression specificity，with low expression levels in roots and high expression levels in fruits，suggesting that members of the PgEIL family were involved in the growth and development of Panax ginseng. The expression of PgEIL genes under heavy metal stress was analyzed by qRT‐PCR.The results showed that Pb，Cd，Cu，and Zn could induce the expression of PgEIL11 gene.PgEIL3，PgEIL5，PgEIL7，and PgEIL8 genes were highly sensitive to Pb and significantly upregulated in expression levels.PgEIL9 gene was activated under Cd treatment but inhibited under Cu and Zn stress，and heavy metal stress could induce the expression of most PgEIL genes.In summary，the PgEIL genes play an important regulatory role in Panax ginseng’s response to heavy metal stress.

Key words: Panax ginseng, EIL transcription factor, Heavy metal stress, Expression analysis, Bioinformatics

摘要： EIL（Ethylene‐insensitive3）转录因子是植物乙烯信号转导和逆境响应中的核心调节因子，参与植物多种生理生化过程，为明确人参中EIL家族的分布和功能，基于人参基因组筛选PgEIL基因家族成员，通过生物信息学分析该家族成员的蛋白质性质、系统发育关系、基因结构、组织表达模式等。结果表明，共筛选出11 个PgEIL 基因。理化性质预测分析结果显示，其均为酸性亲水的不稳定核蛋白。PgEIL基因不均匀地分布在10条染色体上，并存在6对线性关系。PgEIL基因具有高度保守的EIN3结构域，且均含有Motif2、Motif5与Motif9保守基序。系统发育分析显示，PgEIL基因可分为3个不同的进化分支，在同一分支的成员表现出相似的特征，如PgEIL3和PgEIL4。PgEIL基因的启动子区域中富含激素、逆境及光响应元件，且均含有光响应元件。转录组数据分析结果显示，PgEIL基因具有典型的组织表达特异性，在根中的表达量较低，在果实中表达量较高，暗示PgEIL家族成员参与人参的生长发育。采用qRT-PCR分析了重金属胁迫下PgEIL基因的表达情况，结果表明，Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn 4种重金属均能诱导PgEIL11基因的表达，PgEIL3、PgEIL5、PgEIL7、PgEIL8基因对Pb 高度敏感，表达水平显著上调，PgEIL9基因在Cd处理下被激活，而在Cu和Zn胁迫下受到抑制，且重金属胁迫能够诱导大部分PgEIL基因的表达。综上，PgEIL基因在人参响应重金属胁迫过程中具有重要调控作用。

关键词: 人参, EIL转录因子, 重金属胁迫, 表达分析, 生物信息学

CLC Number:

S567.51

LIANG Yong, WU Lei. Identification of the EIL Gene Family in Panax ginseng and Its Expression Analysis under Heavy Metal Stress[J]. Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences, 2026, 55(5): 63-72.

梁勇, 吴磊. 人参EIL基因家族的鉴定及其在重金属胁迫下的表达分析[J]. 河南农业科学, 2026, 55(5): 63-72.

Figures/Tables 8

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