Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Aquaporin Gene Family in Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

Aquaporins (AQPs) facilitate transmembrane transport of water and small solutes, critically influencing plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. However, tea plant AQPs (<i>CsAQPs</i>) remain incompletely characterized genome-wide. In this study, 61 <i>CsAQPs</i> were identified from the tea plant genome and could be classified into five subfamilies. The bioinformatics characteristics, including phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, chromosomal locations, conserved motifs, promoter <i>cis</i>-acting elements, and three-dimensional protein structure, were systematically investigated. Additionally, the expression patterns of <i>CsAQPs</i> in tea plants in response to abiotic and biotic stresses were comprehensively explored based on transcriptome data and qRT-PCR, suggesting that <i>CsAQPs</i> were closely associated with the tea plant responding to environmental adaptation. Notably, the functions of CsPIPs in response to drought and salt, as well as potential H₂O₂ transporters and their subcellular localization, were investigated in yeast. Collectively, our study delivers a complete genomic and evolutionary dissection of the <i>CsAQPs</i> gene family in the tea plant, providing valuable insights into their diverse functions for further investigation.