Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses
Abstract Background Lignin, the second most abundant terrestrial biopolymer, represents a significant renewable natural biomaterial. Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) catalyzes the conversion of various hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA esters into their corresponding aldehydes, utilizing NADPH as a cofactor. CCR fu...
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2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06605-8 |
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| author | Weimin Zhan Lianhua Cui Ningning Song Xinye Liu Guanghui Guo Yanpei Zhang |
| author_facet | Weimin Zhan Lianhua Cui Ningning Song Xinye Liu Guanghui Guo Yanpei Zhang |
| author_sort | Weimin Zhan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Lignin, the second most abundant terrestrial biopolymer, represents a significant renewable natural biomaterial. Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) catalyzes the conversion of various hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA esters into their corresponding aldehydes, utilizing NADPH as a cofactor. CCR functions as a regulatory point that controls the overall carbon flux towards lignin and constitutes the initial committed step in the lignin biosynthesis pathway. Additionally, CCR plays a crucial role in plant development and in resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a hexaploid crop, serves as a staple food for much of the global population. However, the copy number variation and expression characteristics of wheat CCR genes remain to be elucidated. Results This study identified 115 unique members of the CCR gene family through a comprehensive search of the wheat genome database. Subsequent analyses included the physicochemical properties, chromosomal localizations, gene duplication events, and structures of these genes. Wheat CCRs were categorized into TaCCR and TaCCR-like genes based on phylogenetic comparison, sequence alignment, and protein three-dimensional structure analysis. Twenty TaCCR proteins, characterized by key amino acid residues at the protein catalytic and NADPH-binding sites, were identified as genuine TaCCRs, potentially playing significant roles in lignin biosynthesis. The expression patterns of these 20 TaCCR genes were investigated in various wheat tissues and seedlings subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses. These genes may significantly influence stem development and responses to heat, drought, salt, and pathogen stresses. Additionally, degradome data analysis suggested that the expression of TaCCR6D-1 was regulated by miRNAs. Virus-induced gene silencing experiments demonstrated the involvement of TaCCR5-5 and TaCCR6-1 in wheat lignin synthesis. Conclusions This study presents the first comprehensive identification and analysis of wheat CCR genes. Our findings establish a foundation for further elucidation of TaCCR functions and offer a significant genetic resource for future wheat improvement efforts. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8cea732744f48cbb6a7b22b6d08bca72025-08-20T02:55:38ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111810.1186/s12870-025-06605-8Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responsesWeimin Zhan0Lianhua Cui1Ningning Song2Xinye Liu3Guanghui Guo4Yanpei Zhang5State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, College of Agriculture, Henan UniversityKey Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, College of Agriculture, Henan UniversityState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Lignin, the second most abundant terrestrial biopolymer, represents a significant renewable natural biomaterial. Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) catalyzes the conversion of various hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA esters into their corresponding aldehydes, utilizing NADPH as a cofactor. CCR functions as a regulatory point that controls the overall carbon flux towards lignin and constitutes the initial committed step in the lignin biosynthesis pathway. Additionally, CCR plays a crucial role in plant development and in resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a hexaploid crop, serves as a staple food for much of the global population. However, the copy number variation and expression characteristics of wheat CCR genes remain to be elucidated. Results This study identified 115 unique members of the CCR gene family through a comprehensive search of the wheat genome database. Subsequent analyses included the physicochemical properties, chromosomal localizations, gene duplication events, and structures of these genes. Wheat CCRs were categorized into TaCCR and TaCCR-like genes based on phylogenetic comparison, sequence alignment, and protein three-dimensional structure analysis. Twenty TaCCR proteins, characterized by key amino acid residues at the protein catalytic and NADPH-binding sites, were identified as genuine TaCCRs, potentially playing significant roles in lignin biosynthesis. The expression patterns of these 20 TaCCR genes were investigated in various wheat tissues and seedlings subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses. These genes may significantly influence stem development and responses to heat, drought, salt, and pathogen stresses. Additionally, degradome data analysis suggested that the expression of TaCCR6D-1 was regulated by miRNAs. Virus-induced gene silencing experiments demonstrated the involvement of TaCCR5-5 and TaCCR6-1 in wheat lignin synthesis. Conclusions This study presents the first comprehensive identification and analysis of wheat CCR genes. Our findings establish a foundation for further elucidation of TaCCR functions and offer a significant genetic resource for future wheat improvement efforts.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06605-8WheatCinnamoyl-CoA reductaseExpression pattern |
| spellingShingle | Weimin Zhan Lianhua Cui Ningning Song Xinye Liu Guanghui Guo Yanpei Zhang Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses BMC Plant Biology Wheat Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase Expression pattern |
| title | Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| title_full | Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| title_short | Comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) gene family in wheat: implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| title_sort | comprehensive analysis of cinnamoyl coa reductase ccr gene family in wheat implications for lignin biosynthesis and stress responses |
| topic | Wheat Cinnamoyl-CoA reductase Expression pattern |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06605-8 |
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