Identification of wheat DNA-binding with one finger (Dof) transcription factor in genomic sequence of Triticum aestivum chromosome 2

Abstract

The DNA- binding with one finger (Dof) transcription factors plays an important role in various biological functions in plants such as photosynthetic carbon assimilation, stress response, and flowering time. The information regarding the Dof protein is limited in wheat due to lack of wheat genomic data. In this regard, we conducted TaDof gene identification in chromosome 2 and identified eighteen TaDof proteins. These putative genes were mapped on the 2A, 2B and 2D chromosome. The motif analysis confirms the presence of the DNA-binding domain containing C2C2-type zinc figure motif at N-terminal and a transcriptional regulation domain at the C-terminal in the identified sequence. We compared TaDof in rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and performed phylogenetic analysis. These genes were classified into five groups based on phylogenetic analysis supported by high bootstrap values. Tissue- and developmental stage -specific expression analysis of RNA-seq datasets revealed the constitutive as well as the inductive response of TaDof genes in different tissues of wheat. RT-PCR analysis of five selected TaDof TFs were confirmed their responsiveness to drought, heat and salt stress. This study provides valuable information for understanding not only the potential function of Dof genes in regulating abiotic stresses, but also will be basis for exploring the function and evolution studies of more candidate TaDof genes.