Abstract
Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are unique transcription factors in plants. GRFs can interact with SNH (SYT N-terminal homology) domains in GRF-interacting factor (GIF) proteins via the N-terminal QLQ (Gln, Leu, Gln) domain to form functional complexes and participate in the regulation of downstream gene expression. In this study, we systematically identified the GRF gene family and GIF gene family in wheat and its relatives comprising Triticum urartu, Triticum dicoccoides, and Aegilops tauschii. Thirty GRF gene members are present in wheat, which are distributed on 12 chromosomes and they have 2-5 protein-coding regions. They all contain QLQ and WRC (Trp, Arg, Cys) conserved domains. Wheat possesses only eight members of the GIF gene family, which are distributed on six chromosomes. All wheat GIF (TaGIF) proteins have highly conserved SNH and QG (Gln, Gly) domains. The wheat GRF (TaGRF) gene family has 13 pairs of segmental duplication genes and no tandem duplication genes; the TaGIF gene family has two pairs of segmental duplication genes and no tandem duplication genes. It is speculated that segmental duplication events may be the main reason for the amplification of TaGRF gene family and TaGIF gene family. Based on published transcriptome data and qRT-PCR results of 8 TaGRF genes and 4 TaGIF genes, all of the genes responded strongly to osmotic stress, and the expression levels of TaGRF21 and TaGIF5 were also significantly upregulated under drought and cold stress conditions. The results obtained in this study may facilitate further investigations of the functions of TaGRF genes and TaGIF genes in order to identify candidate genes for use in stress-resistant wheat breeding programs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.