What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to identify and analyze the DBB gene family in melon to understand their role in cold resistance.

April 30, 2026Open Access

Comprehensive genome-wide identification, structural analysis, and cold-responsive expression profiling of double B-box (DBB) transcription factors in melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Key Points

This study aims to identify and analyze the DBB gene family in melon to understand their role in cold resistance.
Identified 8 CmDBB genes through blast comparison and assessed their distribution across chromosomes.
Performed phylogenetic and structural prediction analysis on CmDBB proteins.
Analyzed gene expression under low-temperature stress to determine cold responsiveness.
CmDBB4 and CmDBB7 are identified as potential positive regulators of cold tolerance.
CmDBB1, CmDBB3, CmDBB6, and CmDBB8 may act as negative regulatory factors under cold stress.
CmDBB genes exhibit diverse expression patterns in different tissues and under cold stress.

Abstract

Melon is an important horticultural economic crop, and low-temperature stress is one of the key factors limiting melon production. DBB proteins are crucial for plant growth, but studies on the DBB gene family in melon are still limited. This study aims to identify CmDBB genes in melon and explore their potential to enhance cold resistance. Using blast comparison, a total of 8 DBB family members were identified. These genes are unevenly distributed across 6 chromosomes, with two pairs of segmentally duplicated genes. Collinearity analysis showed that the gene conservation between melon and Cucurbitaceae plants, cucumber and watermelon, is significantly higher than that with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. CmDBB proteins exhibit significant differences in physicochemical properties, most of them being unstable, acidic, hydrophilic proteins, mainly localized in the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis categorized CmDBB proteins into four subfamilies, revealing their close evolutionary relationship with DBB proteins in cucumber and watermelon. Structural prediction indicated that CmDBB proteins have certain similarities in secondary and tertiary structures, but some members, such as CmDBB6, show certain structural differences. Promoter analysis revealed that CmDBB gene family members may participate in regulating plant growth and development, light response, hormone response, and stress response. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed significant differences in CmDBB gene expression levels across different tissues. Expression analysis under low-temperature stress indicated that different CmDBB genes exhibit different expression patterns under cold stress, with CmDBB4 and CmDBB7 potentially acting as positive regulatory factors of cold tolerance, while CmDBB1, CmDBB3, CmDBB6, and CmDBB8 may act as negative regulatory factors. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the study of CmDBBs and contribute to the cultivation of low-temperature-tolerant melon varieties.

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