Genome-wide characterization of the Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) gene family in Ammopiptanthus nanus and overexpression of AnLEA30 enhanced abiotic stress tolerance in tobacco

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play a crucial role in determining how plants respond to abiotic stress. Nonetheless, the comprehensive characterization and function of the LEA gene family in Ammopiptanthus nanus, an endangered evergreen shrub plant that survived in harsh desert environments, are largely unknown. Through a comprehensive genome-wide investigation, we successfully identified 45 AnLEA genes in A. nanus and divided them into eight groups. AnLEAs have typical LEA domains, and the promoter analysis shows that they contain various cis-regulatory elements related to stress resistance. The diverse expression patterns of AnLEAs under different abiotic stress treatments suggest that they play an important role in responding to stress. Overexpression of AnLEA30 in tobacco significantly enhanced abiotic stress tolerance by effectively stabilizing and protecting membranes, scavenging reactive oxide species (ROS), and improving photosynthesis, demonstrating the potential for application of AnLEA30 in plant improvement.