Abstract
BackgroundThe HD-Zip family has a diversity of functions during plant development. In this study, we identify 33 HD-Zip transcription factors in grape and detect their expressions in ovules and somatic embryos, as well as in various vegetative organs.ResultsA genome-wide survey for HD-Zip transcription factors in Vitis was conducted based on the 12 X grape genome (V. vinifera L.). A total of 33 members were identified and classified into four subfamilies (I-IV) based on phylogeny analysis with Arabidopsis, rice and maize. VvHDZs in the same subfamily have similar protein motifs and intron/exon structures. An evaluation of duplication events suggests several HD-Zip genes arose before the divergence of the grape and Arabidopsis lineages. The 33 members of HD-Zip were differentially expressed in ovules of the stenospermic grape, Thompson Seedless and of the seeded grape, Pinot noir. Most have higher expressions during ovule abortion in Thompson Seedless. In addition, transcripts of the HD-Zip family were also detected in somatic embryogenesis of Thompson Seedless and in different vegetative organs of Thompson Seedless at varying levels. Additionally, VvHDZ28 is located in the nucleus and had transcriptional activity consistent with the typical features of the HD-Zip family. Our results provide a foundation for future grape HD-Zip gene function research.ConclusionsThe identification and expression profiles of the HD-Zip transcription factors in grape, reveal their diverse roles during ovule abortion and organ development. Our results lay a foundation for functional analysis of grape HDZ genes.
Highlights
The Homeobox domain (HD)-Zip family has a diversity of functions during plant development
These genes were named sequentially from VvHDZ1 to VvHDZ33 based on the CRIBI ID from top to bottom (Table 1), gene names in this study compared with the previous report are shown in Additional file 4: Table S3
Considering that embryos aborted as ovules develop in the ovules of seedless (TS) while they continue to develop in Pinot noir (PN), VvHDZ10 and VvHDZ11 preferentially expressed in PN30 and PN40, they were expressed in somatic embryo at globular embryos (GE) and torpedo embryos (TE) stages, we proposed that their expression at GE and TE stages are necessary for embryo development
Summary
We identify 33 HD-Zip transcription factors in grape and detect their expressions in ovules and somatic embryos, as well as in various vegetative organs. Grapevine (Vitis L.) is one of the world’s most economically important, high-value, fruit crops. It is cultivated for the production of wine, table grapes, juices, distilled liquors and dry raisins. Transcription factors are regulatory proteins which play various roles in transcriptional modulating of gene expression during plant development. They can binding to specific cis-acting elements, which existed in the promoter region of the target genes and regulate their expressions at transcription level [6].
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