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Background <p>The Chinese giant salamander (<i>Andrias davidianus</i>) is a critically endangered living fossil species that is highly sensitive to changes in water temperature. However, systematic studies on the heat shock protein (HSP) gene family and its response mechanisms to environmental stress in this species remain limited. This study utilized transcriptome data from captive-bred salamanders exposed to combined temperature and pathogen stress. Bioinformatics tools were employed to identify the HSP gene family of <i>A. davidianus</i> (<i>AndHSP</i>) and to analyze their evolution, structure, and function, thereby revealing their regulatory mechanisms in response to environmental stress.</p> Results <p>A total of 72 <i>AndHSPs</i> were identified and classified into five subfamilies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each subfamily is evolutionarily conserved and functionally related. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that pathogen infection induced the expression of <i>AndHSPs</i>, and elevated temperature significantly intensified this response. Nine key differentially expressed genes were identified, predominantly from the <i>AndHSP70</i> subfamily, with <i>AndHSP70-18</i> exhibiting rapid heat-induced expression. Tissue-specific analysis showed high expression of <i>AndHSP60</i> in the spleen. A qPCR validation confirmed the reliability of the transcriptome expression results.</p> Conclusions <p>This study presents the first systematic identification of the <i>AndHSP</i> gene family and elucidates its cooperative stress response mechanisms under combined temperature and pathogen stress. These findings provide a molecular basis for understanding the species’ environmental adaptation and have important implications for its conservation and artificial breeding.</p>

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Identification and characterization of the HSP gene family in the Chinese giant salamander: Expression patterns under combined environmental stress

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月24日

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  • Mei Xie,
  • Cheng Wang,
  • Jingfang Li,
  • Yanhui Yin,
  • Qilan Gao,
  • Yixing Xie,
  • Fangpeng Zhang,
  • Zhiyong Deng,
  • Ying Wei,
  • Wansheng Jiang

摘要

Background

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is a critically endangered living fossil species that is highly sensitive to changes in water temperature. However, systematic studies on the heat shock protein (HSP) gene family and its response mechanisms to environmental stress in this species remain limited. This study utilized transcriptome data from captive-bred salamanders exposed to combined temperature and pathogen stress. Bioinformatics tools were employed to identify the HSP gene family of A. davidianus (AndHSP) and to analyze their evolution, structure, and function, thereby revealing their regulatory mechanisms in response to environmental stress.

Results

A total of 72 AndHSPs were identified and classified into five subfamilies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each subfamily is evolutionarily conserved and functionally related. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that pathogen infection induced the expression of AndHSPs, and elevated temperature significantly intensified this response. Nine key differentially expressed genes were identified, predominantly from the AndHSP70 subfamily, with AndHSP70-18 exhibiting rapid heat-induced expression. Tissue-specific analysis showed high expression of AndHSP60 in the spleen. A qPCR validation confirmed the reliability of the transcriptome expression results.

Conclusions

This study presents the first systematic identification of the AndHSP gene family and elucidates its cooperative stress response mechanisms under combined temperature and pathogen stress. These findings provide a molecular basis for understanding the species’ environmental adaptation and have important implications for its conservation and artificial breeding.