The Potential Role of PeMAP65-18 in Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Moso Bamboo

Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) play a pivotal role in the assembly and stabilization of microtubules, which are essential for plant cell growth, development, and morphogenesis. A class of plant-specific MAPs, MAP65, plays largely unexplored roles in moso bamboo ( ). This study identified 19 genes in moso bamboo, systematically examining their phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, gene structures, collinearity, and -acting elements. Analysis of gene expression indicated that s exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns. Functional differentiation was investigated among the members of different subfamilies according to their expression patterns in different development stages of bamboo shoots. The expression of was positively correlated with the expression of genes involved in secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis. Y1H and Dual-LUC assays demonstrated that the transcription of was upregulated by PeMYB46, a key transcription factor of SCW biosynthesis. The result of subcellular localization showed that PeMAP65-18 was located in cortical microtubules. We speculate that may play a crucial role in the SCW deposition of moso bamboo. This comprehensive analysis of the MAP65 family offers novel insights into the roles of s in moso bamboo, particularly in relation to the formation of SCWs.