Abstract
BackgroundSucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) is a plant-specific serine/threonine kinase family involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and responds to osmotic stress. A genome-wide analysis of this protein family has been conducted previously in some plant species, but little is known about SnRK2 genes in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The recent release of the G. hirsutum genome sequence provides an opportunity to identify and characterize the SnRK2 kinase family in upland cotton.ResultsWe identified 20 putative SnRK2 sequences in the G. hirsutum genome, designated as GhSnRK2.1 to GhSnRK2.20. All of the sequences encoded hydrophilic proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the GhSnRK2 genes were classifiable into three groups. The chromosomal location and phylogenetic analysis of the cotton SnRK2 genes indicated that segmental duplication likely contributed to the diversification and evolution of the genes. The gene structure and motif composition of the cotton SnRK2 genes were analyzed. Nine exons were conserved in length among all members of the GhSnRK2 family. Although the C-terminus was divergent, seven conserved motifs were present. All GhSnRK2s genes showed expression patterns under abiotic stress based on transcriptome data. The expression profiles of five selected genes were verified in various tissues by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Transcript levels of some family members were up-regulated in response to drought, salinity or ABA treatments, consistent with potential roles in response to abiotic stress.ConclusionsThis study is the first comprehensive analysis of SnRK2 genes in upland cotton. Our results provide the fundamental information for the functional dissection of GhSnRK2s and vital availability for the improvement of plant stress tolerance using GhSnRK2s.
Highlights
Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) is a plant-specific serine/threonine kinase family involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and responds to osmotic stress
Various studies in plants have indicated that protein kinases are involved in stress signaling via phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, for example, the plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) [8], calciumdependent protein kinase (CDPK) [9], and sucrose nonfermenting1 (SNF1) kinase families
Identification of SnRK2 genes in the G. hirsutum genome A local BLASTP search was performed to identify SnRK2 members in the G. hirsutum genome using Arabidopsis SnRK2 protein sequences as the query sequence
Summary
Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2) is a plant-specific serine/threonine kinase family involved in the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and responds to osmotic stress. A genome-wide analysis of this protein family has been conducted previously in some plant species, but little is known about SnRK2 genes in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in plant response to drought and high salinity. Protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is an important mechanism for mediating intracellular responses, i.e. responses to hormonal, pathogenic, and environmental stresses [7]. Various studies in plants have indicated that protein kinases are involved in stress signaling via phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, for example, the plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) [8], calciumdependent protein kinase (CDPK) [9], and sucrose nonfermenting (SNF1) kinase families. The SNF1 kinase family is known as SNF1 protein kinases in yeasts, AMPactivated protein kinases in mammals, and SNF1-related
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