Molecular and functional analyses of aldolase and eukaryotic translation initiation factor genes in olive (Olea europaea L.)
Öz
Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular basis of stress tolerance and metabolic regulation in olive by characterizing two genes: fructose-1,6- bisphosphate aldolase (OeFBPA) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (OeEIF4E).
Material and Methods: The OeFBPA and OeEIF4E genes were analyzed using genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches. Bioinformatic tools were employed to determine protein properties and promoter elements. Gene expression was assessed in different olive tissues by qRT-PCR. Recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and validated using SDS- PAGE, silver staining, and Western blotting.
Results: Both genes encoded soluble, cytoplasmic, and highly conserved proteins lacking transmembrane domains and signal peptides. OeFBPA retained the catalytic lysine typical of Class I aldolases, whereas OeEIF4E retained the canonical cap-binding domain. Promoter analysis revealed stress- and light-responsive cis-elements. OeFBPA showed the highest expression in flowers, followed by pedicels and on-year leaves, while OeEIF4E was strongly enriched in on-year leaves.
Conclusion: OeFBPA and OeEIF4E play complementary roles in carbon metabolism and translational regulation, thereby contributing to stress adaptation in olive trees. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of these genes in Olea europaea.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (EIF4E), Fructose-1.6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBPA), molecular characterization, Olea europaea L.
Destekleyen Kurum
This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) and Balıkesir University.
Etik Beyan
This study did not involve human participants or experimental animals; therefore, ethical approval was not required.
Teşekkür
The authors would like to thank TÜBİTAK and Balıkesir University for their financial support.
Kaynakça
- Bulotta, S., M. Celano, S.M. Lepore, T. Montalcini, A. Pujia & D. Russo, 2014. Beneficial effects of the olive oil phenolic components oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol: focus on protection against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Journal of Translational Medicine, 12 (1): 219 (1-9).
- Cai, B., Y. Ning, Q. Li, Q. Li & X. Ai, 2022. Effects of the chloroplast fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase gene on growth and low-temperature tolerance of tomato. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (2): 728 (1-14).
- Carrera, D.A., G.M. George, M. Fischer-Stettler, F. Galbier, S. Eicke, E. Truernit, S. Streb & S.C. Zeeman, 2021. Distinct plastid fructose bisphosphate aldolases function in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic metabolism in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 72 (10): 3739-3755.
- Chen, W., J. Zhao, Z. Tao, S. Zhang, X. Bei, W. Lu & X. Qi, 2025. Short heat shock factor A2 confers heat sensitivity in Arabidopsis: insights into heat resistance and growth balance. eLife, 13: 99937 (1-27).
- De Luca, A.I., N. Iofrida, M. González de Molina, E. Spada, P. Domouso, G. Falcone, G. Gulisano & R. García Ruiz, 2023. A methodological proposal of the Sustainolive international research project to drive Mediterranean olive ecosystems toward sustainability. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7: 1207972 (1-20).
- El Yamani, M. & M. del P. Cordovilla, 2024. Tolerance mechanisms of olive tree (Olea europaea) under saline conditions. Plants, 13 (15): 2094 (1-31).
- Feng, Y., Z. Li, X. Kong, A. Khan, N. Ullah & X. Zhang, 2025. Plant coping with cold stress: molecular and physiological adaptive mechanisms with future perspectives. Cells, 14 (2): 110 (1-28).
- Gutierrez Sanchez, P.A., L. Babujee, H. Jaramillo Mesa, E. Arcibal, M. Gannon, D. Halterman, M. Jahn, J. Jiang & A.M. Rakotondrafara, 2020. Overexpression of a modified eIF4E regulates potato virus Y resistance at the transcriptional level in potato. BMC Genomics, 21 (1): 18 (1-16).
- Hrameche, O., S. Tul, I. Manolikaki, N. Digalaki, I. Kaltsa, G. Psarras & G. Koubouris, 2024. Optimizing agroecological measures for climate-resilient olive farming in the Mediterranean. Plants, 13 (6): 900 (1-19).
- Jiang, Z., T. Du, Y. Zhou, Z. Qin, A. Li, Q. Wang, L. Zhang & F. Hou, 2025. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase gene family in sweet potato and its two diploid relatives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26 (15): 7348 (1-18).
