Genome-wide identification of the SPL gene family in Dichanthelium oligosanthes.

Sajid Hussain,Satyabrata Nanda

doi:10.6026/97320630015165

Abstract

SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) transcription factors play vital roles in various plant physiological processes. Although, the identification of the SPL gene family has been done in C4 grass plants, including rice and maize, the same has not been characterized in the C3 grass species Dichanthelium oligosanthes. In this study, 14 SPL genes were identified in the genome of D. oligosanthes. Gene structure analysis of the identified DoSPLs revealed the similarity and redundancy in their exon/intron organizations. Sequence comparisons within the DoSPLs and along with rice SPLs revealed the putative paralogs and orthologs in D. oligosanthes SPL genes. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the DoSPLs into eight groups along with other plant SPLs. Identification of the conserved SBP motifs in all 14 DoSPLs suggested them to be putative SPLs. In addition, the prediction of sub-cellular localization and associated functions for DoSPLs further supported to be SPL genes. The outcome of this study can serve as a framework for the isolation and functional validation of SPL genes in D. oligosanthes

Highlights

Plant transcription factors (TFs) are the regulatory gene families, which modulate the expression of innumerable downstream genes during several physiological processes, including growth and development, photosynthesis, reproduction, and resistance responses [1]
TFs are the common features shared in all the Eukaryotes, some of the TF families are exclusive to plants, including WRKYs, Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), No Apical Meristems (NAMs), and Squamosa Promoter-binding protein-like (SBPs or SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL)) [3]
The potential candidate SPL genes were analyzed for the presence of the conserved SBP domain using the Simple Modular Architecture Research Tool (SMART) and the Conserved Domain Database (CDD)

Summary

Introduction

Plant transcription factors (TFs) are the regulatory gene families, which modulate the expression of innumerable downstream genes during several physiological processes, including growth and development, photosynthesis, reproduction, and resistance responses [1]. TFs are the common features shared in all the Eukaryotes, some of the TF families are exclusive to plants, including WRKYs, Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), No Apical Meristems (NAMs), and Squamosa Promoter-binding protein-like (SBPs or SPLs) [3]. Many studies have reported the identification and characterization of the SPL genes in the model plant Arabidopsis involved in numerous plant physiological processes, including development of shoot [7], leaves [8], and flowers [9], nutrient balances [10, 11], phytohormone signalling [12, 13], and plant fertility and reproduction [13, 14]

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Conclusion