Abstract
- Growth Regulating Factors (GRFs) comprise a transcription factor family with important functions in plant growth and development. They are characterized by the presence of QLQ and WRC domains, responsible for interaction with proteins and DNA, respectively. The QLQ domain is named due to the similarity to a protein interaction domain found in the SWI2/SNF2 chromatin remodeling complex. Despite the occurrence of the QLQ domain in both families, the divergence between them had not been further explored. Here, we show evidence for GRF origin and determined its diversification in angiosperm species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 11 well-supported groups of GRFs in flowering plants. These groups were supported by gene structure, synteny, and protein domain composition. Synteny and phylogenetic analyses allowed us to propose different sets of probable orthologs in the groups. Besides, our results, together with functional data previously published, allowed us to suggest candidate genes for engineering agronomic traits. In addition, we propose that the QLQ domain of GRF genes evolved from the eukaryotic SNF2 QLQ domain, most likely by a duplication event in the common ancestor of the Charophytes and land plants. Altogether, our results are important for advancing the origin and evolution of the GRF family in Streptophyta.
Highlights
Growth Regulating Factors (GRFs) compose an important transcription factor family that plays diverse roles in plant development
We found a GRF gene in the genome of the Charophyte algae Klebsormidium nitens
We found GRF genes in the genome of Charophyte algae species (K. nitens) and in the transcriptomes of other Charophytes Spirogyra pratensis, Nitella mirabilis, Mesostigma viride, Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale, and Klebsormidium crenulatum, showing that the GRF family arose earlier than previously thought during the evolution of Streptophyta, most likely by a duplication event in the common ancestor of Charophyte and land plants
Summary
Growth Regulating Factors (GRFs) compose an important transcription factor family that plays diverse roles in plant development. These transcription factors are characterized by the obligatory presence of 2 conserved domains named QLQ (Gln, Leu, Gln) and WRC (Trp, Arg, Cys) (van der Knaap et al, 2000). The QLQ domain is usually located at the protein N-terminus and contains the motif QX3LX2Q. This region is named QLQ due to the similarity to the protein-protein interaction domain of the yeast SWI2/SNF2 (Switch/Sucrose non-fermentable), which is a subunit of a chromatin-remodeling complex (van der Knaap et al, 2000). There are other conserved regions found in the C-termini of some but not all GRFs, such as FFD (Phe, Phe, Asp), TQL (Thr, Gln, Leu), and GGPL (Gly, Gly, Pro, Leu) (van der Knaap et al, 2000; Kim et al, 2003; Zhang et al, 2008); their roles were not yet unveiled (Kim and Tsukaya, 2015)
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