Identification of Rboh genes from Neoporphyra haitanensis and their expression profiling under stress conditions

Abstract Respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rbohs) is key enzymes in the reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic network. Various studies had shown that plant Rboh genes were involved in plant growth and developmental processes as well as in biotic and abiotic stress responses, but little is known about its functional role in red algae. In the present study, 10 putative NhRboh genes were identified from the genome of Neoporphyra haitanensis. It predicted that most of NhRbohs encode acidic hydrophobic proteins, locating in plasma membrane and chloroplast. Genome-wide syntenic analysis indicated 6 of 10 NhRboh genes were in conserved collinear blocks between N. haitanensis and N. yezoensis, and many cis-acting elements related to stress response were predicted in the up-stream regions of NhRboh genes. Additionally, expression profiles of 8 NhRboh genes were analyzed under stress conditions of dehydration, heat stress and co-stresses of heat and dehydration. Together with transcriptomic and proteomic results, it showed that the expression patterns of these genes were divergent among different conditions, suggesting some genes may be involved in the process of stress tolerance in N. haitanensis. This study provides valuable information to help with further functional studies of Rboh genes in N. haitanensis.