Identification of key genes involved in heat stress response in Brassica napus L.: reconstruction of gene networks, hub genes, and promoter analysis

Brassica napus is a versatile crop with oil and protein-rich seeds, used in food, industry, medicine, and animal feed. However, heat stress limits its productivity, making it essential to identify genes and pathways involved in stress response. We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in B. napus under heat stress using bioinformatics tools to identify key genes and pathways. Firstly, DEGs were analyzed for gene interactions using the STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape. To identify key genes involved in heat stress response in B. napus L., we employed the CytoHubba tool for hub gene identification. Additionally, we conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses to gain insights into the functional roles and potential biological pathways associated with these genes. We also used MEME Suite to analyze the promoter regions of hub genes. Our results showed decreased activity of the b6-f complex, a key component of the electron transport chain, under heat stress. We also identified significantly enriched calcium transporter ATPase and heat shock protein family (HSP20). KEGG and cluster analyses highlighted the importance of membrane lipids, galactose metabolism, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum in stress and signal transduction. Our study provided key genes, including transcription factors and chaperones for developing heat-resistant plants via genetic modification. However, these promising results were obtained through rigorous bioinformatics analysis and require further validation using experimental approaches, such as gene editing, phenotypic characterization, and field trials.