Genome and expression analysis identifies 215 bZIP genes in LA-Purple sugarcane

A genome-wide and RNA-sequencing study of the LA-Purple sugarcane cultivar identified 215 basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription-factor genes, according to the study abstract. The researchers reported that the LA-Purple genome contains a substantially expanded bZIP gene family, with encoded proteins predicted to be predominantly hydrophilic and to localize mainly to the nucleus.

The computational analyses included phylogenetic, motif, domain, exon-intron and comparative analyses with other grasses. The abstract reports strong conservation of the core bZIP region alongside extensive structural diversification. It also indicates that the major bZIP lineages were established before monocot divergence and were subsequently amplified during evolution of the polyploid sugarcane genome. These evolutionary relationships were inferred through sequence-based analyses rather than tested experimentally.

Analysis of 1.5 kilobases of sequence upstream of the identified genes found 57 cis-regulatory elements associated with phytohormone responses, development, tissue specificity and stress responses. RNA-sequencing profiles obtained under gibberellic acid and indole-3-acetic acid treatments and across developmental tissues showed marked differences associated with tissue, developmental stage and treatment duration. SobZIP205 and SobZIP209 were consistently highly expressed across multiple tissues and treatments, while SobZIP97 showed contrasting gibberellic acid-responsive expression in stems and leaves at 48 and 96 hours.

The findings are based on genome annotation, sequence analysis, regulatory-element prediction and expression profiling in one sugarcane cultivar. The abstract does not describe functional experiments demonstrating that individual bZIP genes control development, hormone responses or stress adaptation, so those biological roles remain unvalidated. The authors describe the results as a foundation for future functional validation and molecular breeding, but the reported evidence does not establish improved growth, stress resilience or breeding performance.

Subject of Research: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of bZIP genes in LA-Purple sugarcane

Article Title: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of bZIP transcription factors in sugarcane reveals roles in development, hormone signaling, and stress response

Article References: Shu-He, Z., Wen-Qing, B., Ming-Hui, Z., Cui-Li, L., He-Ping, L., Ali, A., Yue-Bin, Z., & Rui-Mei, L. (2026). Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of bZIP transcription factors in sugarcane reveals roles in development, hormone signaling, and stress response. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-09867-y

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12870-026-09867-y

Keywords: sugarcane, LA-Purple, bZIP transcription factors, genome analysis, gene family, RNA sequencing, phytohormone response, gene expression, cis-regulatory elements, polyploidy, Genome-wide, identification