Comparative genomics points to tandem duplications of SAD gene clusters as drivers of increased α-linolenic (ω-3) content in S. hispanica seeds.
Plant Genome
; 17(1): e20430, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38339968
ABSTRACT
Salvia hispanica L. (chia) is a source of abundant ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3-PUFAs) that are highly beneficial to human health. The genomic basis for this accrued ω-3-PUFA content in this emerging crop was investigated through the assembly and comparative analysis of a chromosome-level reference genome for S. hispanica. The highly contiguous 321.5-Mbp genome assembly covering all six chromosomes enabled the identification of 32,922 protein-coding genes. Two whole-genome duplications (WGD) events were identified in the S. hispanica lineage. However, these WGD events could not be linked to the high α-linolenic acid (ALA, ω-3) accumulation in S. hispanica seeds based on phylogenomics. Instead, our analysis supports the hypothesis that evolutionary expansion through tandem duplications of specific lipid gene families, particularly the stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase (ShSAD) gene family, is the main driver of the abundance of ω-3-PUFAs in S. hispanica seeds. The insights gained from the genomic analysis of S. hispanica will help establish a molecular breeding target that can be leveraged through genome editing techniques to increase ω-3 content in oil crops.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ácidos Grasos Omega-3
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Plant Genome
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia