Genome-Wide Identification of the CYP78A Gene Family in Lycium and Functional Characterization of LrCYP78A5

The <i>CYP78A</i> gene family, a plant-specific subfamily of cytochrome P450 enzymes, plays pivotal roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Although the <i>CYP78A</i> genes in many plants have been widely studied, little is known about them in <i>Lycium</i>. In this study, we identified six <i>CYP78A</i> genes in both <i>Lycium barbarum</i> and <i>Lycium ruthenicum</i> through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. These genes exhibited high conservation in protein structure, gene organization, and conserved motifs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed they are close in terms of homology to <i>CYP78A</i> genes in <i>Arabidopsis</i>, tomato, and eggplant. <i>Cis</i>-acting element analysis of the promoter regions indicated that <i>CYP78A</i> genes are involved in light, hormone, and stress responses, with tissue-specific expression patterns observed across different developmental stages. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed that LrCYP78A5 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Overexpression of <i>LrCYP78A5</i> in <i>L. ruthenicum</i> resulted in a significant increase in chlorophyll content, indicating the former's potential role in plant growth. These findings provide valuable insights into the functional roles of the <i>CYP78A</i> gene family in goji, highlighting their potential involvement in growth regulation and metabolic processes.