Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a universal signal transduction module that plays a vital role in regulating growth and development, as well as environmental stress responses in plants. Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide. Although the MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) family in wheat has been investigated, the MAPK and MAPK kinase (MAP2K) gene families remain unknown at present. Here, 54 MAPK and 18 MAPKK genes were identified in wheat using recent genomic information. Phylogenetic analysis of Triticum aestivum L. MAPKs and MAPKKs (TaMAPKs and TaMAPKKs) together with homologous genes from other species classified them into four groups, and the clustering was consistent with the genomic exon/intron structures. Conserved motif analysis found that MAPK proteins contained a typical TXY phosphorylation site and MAPKK proteins contained an S/T-X5-S/T motif. RNA-seq data mapping analysis showed that MAPK and MAPKK genes in group IV had tissue-specific expression profiles, whereas each group I member showed relatively high expression in all organs. Expression patterns of TaMAPK and TaMAPKK genes under stress conditions were also investigated and stress-responsive candidates were identified. Co-expression network analysis identified 11 TaMAPK genes and 6 TaMAPKK genes involved in the interaction network pathway. Overall, this study provided useful information for evolutionary and functional surveys of MAPK and MAPKK gene families in wheat and beyond.
Highlights
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, and provides about 30% of the staple food source for humankind [1,2]
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade genes code for well-conserved proteins that function as key signal transduction components, consisting of three MAPK members activated by sequential phosphorylation, namely (MAPK kinase kinase) MAP3K- (MAPK kinase)
MAPK3 and MAPK6 play a critical role in promoting cell division in integuments during ovule development as well as being involved in abiotic stress response [5]
Summary
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, and provides about 30% of the staple food source for humankind [1,2]. Extensive studies have revealed that the MAPKs have indispensable regulatory roles in response to abiotic stresses in plants. The genome organization, evolutionary features and expression profiles of the MAP3K gene family has been systematically studied [4]. Information on wheat MAPK and MAPKK gene families is not well-understood, especially those families involved in abiotic stress response. The phylogenetic tree, conserved motifs, gene expression pattern and regulatory network of these MAPKs and MAPKKs were further systematically analyzed. The expression patterns of 54 MAPK and 18 MAPKK genes under abiotic stress or in various tissues were comprehensively investigated by RNA-seq analyses. This study provided basic information about the genomic organization of MAPK and MAPKK genes in wheat, which will facilitate further functional studies
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