Genome-wide identification of SWEET family genes and functional analysis of NtSWEET12i under drought and saline-alkali stresses in tobacco

作者：Wenting Song, Luyao Xue, Xiaoshan Jin, Xiaoqing Liu, Xiaoxia Chen, Xinru Wu, Mengmeng Cui, Qianyu Liu, Dawei Wang · 发表于：BMC Plant Biology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12870-025-06190-w · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism、Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls、Plant Molecular Biology Research

BACKGROUND: SWEET (Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) proteins play vital roles in the transport of sugars, contributing to the regulation of plant development, hormone signaling, and responses to abiotic stress. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 57 NtSWEETs in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and then their physicochemical properties, chromosomal localization, synteny, phylogenetic relationships, genomic structure, promoter cis-elements, protein interaction network, tissue specificity, and expression pattern were systematically analyzed. In addition, NtSWEET12i improves drought and saline-alkali tolerance in tobacco by enhancing soluble sugars transport, ABA signaling, proline biosynthesis, and ROS scavenging. These findings illuminate the role of NtSWEETs, particularly NtSWEET12i, in regulating plant tolerance to drought and saline-alkali stresses. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers new insights to enhance our understanding of the roles of NtSWEETs and identify potential genes involved in drought and saline-alkali tolerance of plants. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.