Evolutionary and functional differentiation of the glutamate receptor-like family in tea (Camellia sinensis) plants and other plants

Abstract

Glutamate receptor-like (GLR) is a ligand-gated ion channel essential for plant growth, development, and response to environmental stressors. This study identified GLR family members from 15 representative plants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the GLRs may have originated from early algae. Subcellular localization and structure predictions suggest functional diversity of GLR family proteins. Furthermore, we revealed the evolutionary trajectory of GLRs via conserved motif analysis. Moreover, transcriptome expression profiling revealed functional differentiation of the CsGLR family during long-term evolution. Notably, the results of stress treatment and gene suppression indicate that CsGLRs not only respond to drought and salt stress but also affect the abscission of tea flowers. The results of the correlation analysis suggested that CsGLRs may participate in the metabolism of theobromine and jasmonic acid. Overall, our results provide valuable insights into the origin, evolution and biological functions of the GLR family.