Genome-wide identification of BONZAI (BON) genes in Glycine max L. and their regulated expression patterns under saline environment

Abstract

BONZAI protein plays a vital role in regulating calcium signaling under hyperosmotic stress caused due to adverse environmental conditions like drought, salinity, and high temperature. Most of these stresses negatively affect plant growth, development, and crop yield. In view of this, the present study was aimed at comprehensive genome-wide identification of BONZAI genes from soybean (Glycine max L.) and their tissue-specific temporal expression analysis under salt-stress conditions. Using the BONZAI domain, a total of five putative BON orthologous were identified in the soybean genome (GmBONs), whose sub-cellular localization was limited to chloroplast and cytoplasm. The identified cis-regulatory elements of GmBONs promoters indicated their involvement in regulating responses generated under environmental stress conditions and showed hormonal signal responsiveness. In addition, 32 known miRNA candidates were identified which can putatively target the identified GmBONs. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed a total of five subgroups and GmBONs were distributed in two of them. A three-dimensional homologous protein structure model was predicted using bioinformatics tools, showing the presence of a trimmer protein that was based on an Arabidopsis BONZAI gene template. For the functional characterization of these GmBONs under adverse stress conditions, a tissue-specific expressional analysis using real-time qPCR was carried out. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report on BONZAI in soybean, a high-value oil-seed legume crop.