A Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of the Heavy-Metal-Associated Gene Family in Cucurbitaceae Species and Their Role in Cucurbita pepo under Arsenic Stress

The heavy-metal-associated (HMA) proteins are a class of PB1-type ATPases related to the intracellular transport and detoxification metals. However, due lack information regarding HMA gene family in Cucurbitaceae family, comprehensive genome-wide analysis was performed ten species: Citrullus amarus, colocynthis, lanatus, mucosospermus, Cucumis melo, sativus, Cucurbita maxima, moschata, pepo, Legenaria siceraria. We identified 103 Cucurbit with various members, ranging from 8 (Legenaria siceraria) 14 (Cucurbita pepo) across species. phylogenetic structural confirmed that protein could be further classified into two major clades: Zn/Co/Cd/Pb Cu/Ag. GO-annotation-based subcellular localization predicted all members were localized on membranes. Moreover, conserved motifs structure (intron/exon) revealed functional divergence between clades. interspecies microsynteny demonstrated maximum orthologous genes found species genera. Finally, nine candidate selected, their expression carried out via qRT-PCR root, leaf, flower, fruit tissues C. pepo under arsenic stress. pattern CpeHMA showed distinct root shoot tissues, remarkable CpeHMA6 CpeHMA3 Cu/Ag clade. Overall, this study provides insights lays down basic knowledge explore role mechanism cope stress conditions.