Abstract
The GRAS (named after first three identified proteins within this family, GAI, RGA, and SCR) family contains plant-specific genes encoding transcriptional regulators that play a key role in gibberellin (GA) signaling, which regulates plant growth and development. Even though GRAS genes have been characterized in some plant species, little research is known about the GRAS genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In this study, we observed 62 GRAS members from barley genome, which were grouped into 12 subgroups by using phylogenomic analysis together with the GRAS genes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa). Chromosome localization and gene structure analysis suggested that duplication events and abundant presence of intronless genes might account for the massive expansion of GRAS gene family in barley. The analysis of RNA-seq data indicates the expression pattern of GRAS genes in various tissues at different stages in barley. Noteworthy, our qRT-PCR analysis showed the expression of 18 candidate GRAS genes abundantly in the developing inflorescence, indicating their potential roles in the barley inflorescence development and reproduction. Collectively, our evolutionary and expression analysis of GRAS family are useful for future functional characterization of GA signaling in barley and agricultural improvement.
Highlights
Transcription factors bind to the specific cis-elements in the promoter region of target genes to modulate their expression
Our evolutionary and expression analysis of GRAS family are useful for future functional characterization of gibberellic acid (GA) signaling in barley and agricultural improvement
The GRAS family is named after the first three-member including Gibberellic Acid Intensive (GAI), Repressor of GAI-3 mutant (RGA), and Scarecrow (SCR) [1]
Summary
Transcription factors bind to the specific cis-elements in the promoter region of target genes to modulate their expression. The GRAS family is named after the first three-member including Gibberellic Acid Intensive (GAI), Repressor of GAI-3 mutant (RGA), and Scarecrow (SCR) [1]. Proteins in this family consist of a variable N-terminus and a highly conserved C-terminus. LS (Lateral Suppressor), Arabidopsis LAS (Lateral Suppressor), and rice MOC1 (Monoculm 1) share only about 50% similarity and show a few diversified functions in reproductive stages and controlling axillary meristem initiation. They are conserved in promoting shoot branching or tillering [25,26,27]. We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these GRAS members and revealed their structural diversity, and showed their diversified expressional patterns, providing a basis for further elucidating the function of barley GRAS
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