Crosstalk between Amino Acid Catabolism and Stress Signaling in Potato (Solanum tuberosum) under Drought Stress Conditions

The catabolism of amino acids (AAC) is vital for cellular proteostasis and stress adaptation in plants, yet its transcriptional regulation in potato (Solanum tuberosum) under drought remains poorly understood. This study aimed to illuminate the regulatory networks governing AAC in potato under water stress conditions. Using publicly available transcriptomic data from drought-tolerant and -susceptible potato clones, differential expression and co-expression network analyses were performed. The analysis identified two key differentially expressed AAC genes (DEAACs): Asparaginase (StASN) and Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase (StHMGL), both upregulated in the tolerant clone. The co-expression network revealed that these genes are linked to key stress-responsive transcription factors, including an orthologue of DREB2C, and numerous protein kinases, predominantly Receptor-like Kinases (RLKs) involved in stomatal regulation and hormonal signaling. These findings establish a direct molecular network linking amino acid metabolism with key hormonal and stress-signaling pathways in potato. This integrated network provides novel insights into the mechanisms of drought tolerance and identifies potential gene targets for improving crop resilience.