In a genome-wide analysis of the medicinal legume Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, researchers identified 64 non-redundant AmPUB genes through integrated U-box domain detection, homology searches, conserved-domain validation, and gene-level curation. Phylogenetic, motif, gene-structure, and domain-architecture analyses revealed structural and evolutionary diversification within the AmPUB gene family, establishing a curated catalog and candidate-prioritization framework for genes associated with root salt-stress responses.
Syntenic analysis conducted with MCScanX identified 18 segmental or whole-genome duplication-associated duplicated pairs, three tandem duplicated pairs, and 341 cross-species syntenic pairs across six reference species. Plant U-box proteins serve as E3 ubiquitin ligases involved in protein turnover, development, hormone signaling, immunity, and stress responses, yet the family had not previously been systematically characterized in this species under a curated gene-level framework.
Because the root represents the principal medicinal organ of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, candidate selection was informed by database-derived root transcript abundance profiles based on transcripts per million values. Quantitative real-time PCR profiling of selected candidates subjected to salt treatment provided exploratory transcriptional evidence, delivering a reproducible resource for subsequent functional investigations of PUB E3 ubiquitin ligases in this legume.
Subject of Research: Genome-wide characterization of AmPUB genes in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus
Article Title: A curated genome-wide catalog of U-box/PUB genes in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus reveals evolutionary diversification and root salt-stress-associated candidates
Article References: Tong, C., Meng, X., Yan, X., Fan, Z., Tang, L., Wang, N., Qin, F., & Kang, F. (2026). A curated genome-wide catalog of U-box/PUB genes in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus reveals evolutionary diversification and root salt-stress-associated candidates. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-10216-2
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-026-10216-2
Keywords: Astragalus membranaceus, Plant Biology, PUB Genes, E3 Ubiquitin Ligases, Salt Stress, Gene Duplication, Root Biology, Plant Genomics, curated, genome-wide, catalog, U-box
News Source: Juliet Wilcox. (November 6, 2026). Genome-Wide Catalog Identifies Root Salt-Stress PUB Genes in Astragalus membranaceus. Scienmag.
