%0 Journal Article
%A Fang LIU
%A Jianhui CHUN
%A Wenlong DONG
%A Yuanchao TU
%A Yunjian XU
%T Identification of the Maize GLP Family Genes and Their Expression in Response to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis
%D 2025
%R 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2025.03.011
%J Bulletin of Botanical Research
%P 406-418
%V 45
%N 3
%X <p>Germin-like proteins （GLPs） are a class of highly conserved stress-responsive proteins that can specifically respond to symbiotic interactions. This study， based on the whole-genome information of maize B73， used bioinformatics approaches to identify and analyze the characteristics of the <i>ZmGLP</i> gene family. The expression patterns of <i>ZmGLP</i> genes during arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF） symbiosis were examined by using transcriptome data. This study identified a total of 45 <i>ZmGLP</i> genes， which were distributed across nine chromosomes， with 25 of the genes being tandem duplications. By analysis of a phylogenetic tree， <i>ZmGLP</i> genes were classified into five distinct subfamilies. Notably， there were significant differences in tissue expression patterns among different <i>ZmGLP</i> genes. Promoter <i>cis</i>-element analysis showed that <i>ZmGLP</i> promoters contained elements responsive to light， stress， and growth and development. Interestingly， the promoter of <i>ZmGLP4</i>-<i>8</i> contained the mycorrhiza-responsive element MYCS， and 20 <i>ZmGLP</i> promoters contained the potential mycorrhiza-responsive element GCCGGC. Analysis of transcriptome data from maize roots at different days after inoculation with AMF revealed that the expression of 12 <i>ZmGLP</i> genes was significantly changed following inoculation with AMF. Among them， <i>ZmGLP3</i>-<i>3</i>， <i>ZmGLP4</i>-<i>8</i>， <i>ZmGLP4</i>-<i>16</i>， <i>ZmGLP4</i>-<i>20</i>， <i>ZmGLP5</i>-<i>1</i>， and <i>ZmGLP6</i>-<i>1</i> were significantly upregulated in expression during the late stage of symbiosis. These genes were located in different evolutionary branches compared to the reported symbiosis-related <i>GLP</i> genes， suggesting that these genes may be involved in functions related to the late stage of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Functional studies of <i>ZmGLP3</i>-<i>3</i> showed that， compared to wild-type maize plants， the mycorrhizal symbiosis rate of the mutant <i>zmglp3</i>-<i>3</i> was significantly reduced. In summary， this study provided a comprehensive theoretical basis for the exploration of symbiosis-related <i>ZmGLP</i> genes in maize， offering insights into their potential roles and functions in plant-fungal interactions.</p>
%U https://bbr.nefu.edu.cn/EN/10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2025.03.011