ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Nutrition
Comparative genomics revealed the gene evolution and functional divergence of TaMRS2/CorA/NIPA magnesium transporter families in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Xiangyang Hao 1,2,3
Yu Zhang 2,3
Jianzhou Zhang 2,3
Hai-Bin Dong 2,3
Peng Chaojun 2,3
Xi-Jun Du 2,3
Chunping Wang 1,3
Yi-Han Fu 1
Xue-Li Qi 3,2
1. Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
2. Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
3. The Shennong Laboratory, Zhengzhou, China
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Abstract
Magnesium transporters (MGTs) are a class of proteins essential for Mg²⁺ uptake, transport and storage, containing two or more C‑terminal transmembrane domains. Although MGTs have been characterized in plants, systematic and comprehensive identification of MGTs in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and their functions across growth stages and tissues remain unclear. In this study, 63 TaMGT genes were identified in wheat using comparative genomics. Based on phylogenetic tree, gene structure and motif analysis, these genes were divided into MRS2, CorA and NIPA subfamilies and renamed systematically. Most magnesium transporters are predicted to localize in membrane systems, distributed across the plasma membrane and organelle membranes, consistent with their distinct functions. A total of 200 magnesium transporter genes were found considered to be generated by gene duplication events. And 1045 interacting protein clades were predicted. Expression analysis showed that MGT genes were highly expressed in anthers at flowering stage, indicating their important roles in wheat reproductive growth. qRT‑PCR confirmed that 24 TaMRS2 genes exhibited distinct tissue‑specific expression, with higher expression in leaves, stems and spikes than in roots. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the evolution, functional differentiation and tissue‑specific expression of MGT genes in wheat.
Summary
Keywords
comparative analysis, expression analysis, gene duplication events, Magnesium, Magnesium transporter, wheat
Received
01 November 2025
Accepted
19 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Hao, Zhang, Zhang, Dong, Chaojun, Du, Wang, Fu and Qi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Yi-Han Fu; Xue-Li Qi
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