Data Sheet 1_Genome-wide characterization of the Bursaphelenchus xylophilus UGT gene family and its potential roles in detoxification and host interaction.docx

IntroductionPine wilt disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus constitutes a severe threat to global pine forests. The UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene family is involved in xenobiotic detoxification, environmental adaptation, and other biological processes, but systematic identification of this family in B. xylophilus has not yet been performed. This study aimed to comprehensively identify UGT family members in B. xylophilus and clarify their molecular roles in xenobiotic detoxification and host adaptation regulation.
MethodsBased on genome-wide data, we identified 47 UGT genes in B. xylophilus and systematically analyzed their phylogenetic relationships, physicochemical properties, gene structures, transcription factor binding sites, as well as expression profiles under nematicide stress and during the infection stage.
ResultsThe results showed that the UGT genes are distributed across 5 chromosomes. Compared with those of Caenorhabditis elegans, these genes exhibit both conserved and species-specific evolutionary patterns, and no gene duplication events were detected in the UGT genes. Expression profile analysis revealed that members of this gene family are involved in the stress response of B. xylophilus to nematicide exposure; most UGT genes were significantly upregulated during the infection stage, and several genes maintained high expression levels, suggesting that they may play key roles in xenobiotic detoxification and host adaptation.
DiscussionThis study clarifies the functional importance of the UGT gene family in B. xylophilus, providing a theoretical basis for elucidating its adaptive mechanisms and developing control strategies.