作为糖酵解途径中的关键调节酶，丙酮酸激酶（PK）在植物生长发育与响应非生物胁迫中发挥重要作用。然而，目前关于玉米中PKs基因的研究未见报道。本研究以玉米B73为参考基因组，通过生物信息学方法，鉴定出13个玉米PKs基因，分布在7条染色体上。系统发育分析将这些基因分为PKc和PKp两个亚家族。此外，ZmPKs基因启动子中含有丰富的光响应元件、激素响应元件及逆境胁迫响应元件。转录组数据显示，除ZmPK5外，其余ZmPKs基因在所有组织中均有表达，其中ZmPK3和ZmPK9在各组织中表达水平较高。qPCR分析结果表明，玉米PKc亚家族中的ZmPK1、ZmPK4、ZmPK9和ZmPK12对低氮和盐胁迫响应最为显著，但表达趋势相反：低氮处理诱导这些基因的表达，而盐胁迫则抑制其表达。此外，ABA处理可显著上调ZmPK1、ZmPK4和ZmPK12的表达。本研究不仅提供了玉米PK基因的基因组信息，还为未来深入研究PKs在氮素吸收和耐盐性中的功能奠定了分子基础。

As a key regulatory enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, pyruvate kinase (PK) plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress. However, studies on PKs in maize have not yet been reported. In this study, we utilized the maize B73 reference genome to identify 13 maize PK genes distributed across seven chromosomes through bioinformatics analysis. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into two subfamilies: PKc and PKp. Furthermore, the promoters of ZmPK genes contain a wealth of light-responsive elements, hormone-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements. Transcriptome data indicated that, with the exception of ZmPK5, all other ZmPK genes were expressed in all tissues, with ZmPK3 and ZmPK9 exhibiting relatively higher expression levels across various tissues. qPCR results demonstrated that ZmPK1, ZmPK4, ZmPK9, and ZmPK12 in the maize PKc subfamily responded most significantly to low nitrogen and salt stress, albeit with opposing expression trends: low nitrogen treatment induced their expression, whereas salt stress suppressed it. Furthermore, ABA treatment significantly upregulated the expression of ZmPK1, ZmPK4, and ZmPK12. This study not only provides genomic information on maize PK genes but also establishes a molecular foundation for future in-depth research into the roles of PKs in nitrogen uptake and salt tolerance.

国家自然科学青年基金(32301736)和山东省自然科学青年(ZR2021QC090)