Genomic Survey and Cold-Induced Expression Patterns of bHLH Transcription Factors in Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl) Sarg.
, Delight Hwarari 1, Dong’ao Li 3, Ye Lu 4, Min Gao 1, Jinhui Chen 4,* and Liming Yang 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The manuscript titled “Genomic survey and cold-induced expression patterns of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense” lays out a very interesting analysis of a genome-wide study for bHLH gene family in Liriodendron chinense. The work is well performed and easy to follow. I recommend with minor comments addressed below:
1.- I suggest for figure 1, for panel B and C, only one figure to associate the motif patterns of LcbHLH subfamilies. Also, describe in figure text, what meaning of the numbers in columns.
2.- Figure 3, describe what meaning of the colors and numbers in the figure.
3.- Figure 5, is not clear.
4.- Results for Figure 6, panel A, description of protein interaction analysis in LcbHLH family is limited, please describe in detail. What meaning the colors in figure 6, panel A.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Dear Reviewer and Editor,
Thank you very much for your time and efforts in handling and reviewing our manuscript. Your valuable comments and suggestions helped us greatly to improve the quality of the manuscript. We revised the manuscript according to your factful and valuable comments and suggestions, and tried to improve the quality of manuscript, making point-to-point response as follows;
Point 1:
The manuscript titled “Genomic survey and cold-induced expression patterns of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense” lays out a very interesting analysis of a genome-wide study for bHLH gene family in Liriodendron chinense. The work is well performed and easy to follow. I recommend with minor comments addressed below:
Response 1: Thank you very much for your valuable comment.
Point 2:
I suggest for figure 1, for panel B and C, only one figure to associate the motif patterns of LcbHLH subfamilies. Also, describe in figure text, what meaning of the numbers in columns.
Response 2: We greatly appreciate your prized comment and suggestion. Figure 1 was revised and corrected as adviced. Additional descriptions of in figure text were added and the meaning of numbers were explained.
Point 3:
Figure 3, describe what meaning of the colors and numbers in the figure.
Response 3: Thank you very much for this comment. It is our overlook and failure to fully describe the meanings of Figure 3.Nonetheless, the meaning of the colors in Figure was fully described. Please check Figure 3
Point 4:
Figure 5, is not clear.
Response 4: Thank you very much for this observation and comment, we deeply value its imapact on the quality of this manuscript. A clear figure was added into the manuscript. Please check Figure 5.
Point 5:
Results for Figure 6, panel A, description of protein interaction analysis in LcbHLH family is limited, please describe in detail. What meaning the colors in figure 6, panel A.
Response 5: : Thank you very much for this observation and comment, Figure 6A description was was broadened and described in detail. The meaning of colors within the Figure panel were fully explained for reader compherension.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
“Genomic survey and cold-induced expression patterns of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense“.
The aim of this research was a detailed the genome-wide survey of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense. They identified 91 LcbHLH family members were grouped into 19 different subfamilies based on the conserved motifs and phylogenetic analysis.
The manuscript brings new elements to existing knowledge about genetics of Liriodendron chinense. The findings provide the basic information of bHLH gene in Liriodendron chinense and their regulatory roles in plant development and cold stress response.
The manuscript is prepared professionally. It includes a well-crafted abstract and an exhaustive introduction that justifies the research undertaken. The introduction points to the deficiencies in the literature on the subject. The aim is clearly defined. Modern analytical methods were used in the research. The discussion of the results is well prepared. The conclusions are well-defined. The illustrative material is appropriate.
Detailed comments:
Abstract - Should be include more numeric data.
Introduction - The introduction is enough in my opinion. However needs starting sentence related to roles of genes in plant development and cold stress response. I suggest below sentence with some fresh references
Globally out of all abiotic stress factors, cold, drought, and heat stresses are declared as the most complex ones affecting plant growth, survival, and crop productivity. Molecular regulation at the post transcriptional level possesses a vital role for development, growth, nutrient allocation, and defensive mechanism in plants (Gali et al., 2019; Asim et al., 2021....)
Gali, K.K.; Sackville, A.; Tafesse, E.G.; Lachagari, V.B.R.; McPhee, K.; Hybl, M.; Mikić, A.; Smýkal, P.; McGee, R.; Burstin, J.; Domoney, C.; Ellis, T.H.N.; Tar'an, B.; Warkentin, T.D. Genome-Wide Association Mapping for Agronomic and Seed Quality Traits of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.). Front. Plant Sci. 2019, 10,1538.
Asim, A..; Gokce Ozturk, Z.N.; Bakhsh, A.; Cayli I.T.; Aksoy, E.; Caliskan, S.; Caliskan, M.E.; Demirel, U. Individual and combined effect of drought and heat stresses in contrasting potato cultivars over expressing miR172b-3p. Turk. J. Agric. For. 2021, 45, 651-668.
Please combine below sentences in one sentence
The bHLH family plays an imperative role in plants regulating growth and development, morphogenesis, and stress responses [1-3]. The bHLH transcription factor family is 36 characterized by its helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, with the N-terminal as the base region, consisting of about 15 amino acids, known for recognizing and binding to specific DNA while, the C-terminal is the HLH region with about 50 amino acids [4-6].
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Dear Reviewer and Editor,
Thank you very much for your time and efforts in handling and reviewing our manuscript. Your valuable comments and suggestions helped us greatly to improve the quality of the manuscript. We revised the manuscript according to your factful and valuable comments and suggestions, and tried to improve the quality of manuscript, making point-to-point response as follows;
Point 1:
“Genomic survey and cold-induced expression patterns of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense“.
The aim of this research was a detailed the genome-wide survey of bHLH transcription factors in Liriodendron chinense. They identified 91 LcbHLH family members were grouped into 19 different subfamilies based on the conserved motifs and phylogenetic analysis.
The manuscript brings new elements to existing knowledge about genetics of Liriodendron chinense. The findings provide the basic information of bHLH gene in Liriodendron chinense and their regulatory roles in plant development and cold stress response.
The manuscript is prepared professionally. It includes a well-crafted abstract and an exhaustive introduction that justifies the research undertaken. The introduction points to the deficiencies in the literature on the subject. The aim is clearly defined. Modern analytical methods were used in the research. The discussion of the results is well prepared. The conclusions are well-defined. The illustrative material is appropriate.
Response 1: Thank you very much for your valuable comment.
Point 2:
Abstract - Should be include more numeric data.
Response 2: We greatly appreciate your prized comment and suggestion. The contents of the Absctract were revised and numeric descriptions were added to fully recapitulate the research and deliver intended information, which we believe will be valuable to the reader. Pleease check; Page 1, Line 21-24.
Point 3:
Introduction - The introduction is enough in my opinion. However needs starting sentence related to roles of genes in plant development and cold stress response. I suggest below sentence with some fresh references
Globally out of all abiotic stress factors, cold, drought, and heat stresses are declared as the most complex ones affecting plant growth, survival, and crop productivity. Molecular regulation at the post transcriptional level possesses a vital role for development, growth, nutrient allocation, and defensive mechanism in plants (Gali et al., 2019; Asim et al., 2021....).
Gali, K.K.; Sackville, A.; Tafesse, E.G.; Lachagari, V.B.R.; McPhee, K.; Hybl, M.; Mikić, A.; Smýkal, P.; McGee, R.; Burstin, J.; Domoney, C.; Ellis, T.H.N.; Tar'an, B.; Warkentin, T.D. Genome-Wide Association Mapping for Agronomic and Seed Quality Traits of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.). Front. Plant Sci. 2019, 10,1538.
Asim, A..; Gokce Ozturk, Z.N.; Bakhsh, A.; Cayli I.T.; Aksoy, E.; Caliskan, S.; Caliskan, M.E.; Demirel, U. Individual and combined effect of drought and heat stresses in contrasting potato cultivars over expressing miR172b-3p. Turk. J. Agric. For. 2021, 45, 651-668.
Response 3: Thank you so much for this insightfully and factful suggestion. To a larger extent, it improved our Introduction opening. This suggestionn was fully incorperated in the Manuscript introduction; Page 1, Line 38-41. The references suggested were aslo added within the manuscript reference list.
Point 4:
Please combine below sentences in one sentence
The bHLH family plays an imperative role in plants regulating growth and development, morphogenesis, and stress responses [1-3]. The bHLH transcription factor family is 36 characterized by its helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, with the N-terminal as the base region, consisting of about 15 amino acids, known for recognizing and binding to specific DNA while, the C-terminal is the HLH region with about 50 amino acids [4-6].
Response 4: Thank you very much for the addition and comment, we deeply value its imapct on the quality of this manuscript. The sentences were combined into a single sentence as advised. Please check; Page 1, Line 41-45.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
