GATA Gene Family Research Articles

Genome-Wide Identification of GATA Family Genes in Potato and Characterization of StGATA12 in Response to Salinity and Osmotic Stress.

GATA factors are evolutionarily conserved transcription regulators that are implicated in the regulation of physiological changes under abiotic stress. Unfortunately, there are few studies investigating the potential role of GATA genes in potato plants responding to salt and osmotic stresses. The physicochemical properties, chromosomal distribution, gene duplication, evolutionary relationships and classification, conserved motifs, gene structure, interspecific collinearity relationship, and cis-regulatory elements were analyzed. Potato plants were treated with NaCl and PEG to induce salinity and osmotic stress responses. qRT-PCR was carried out to characterize the expression pattern of StGATA family genes in potato plants subjected to salinity and osmotic stress. StGATA12 loss-of-function and gain-of-function plants were established. Morphological phenotypes and growth were indicated. Photosynthetic gas exchange was suggested by the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance. Physiological indicators and the corresponding genes were indicated by enzyme activity and mRNA expression of genes encoding CAT, SOD, POD, and P5CS, and contents of H2O2, MDA, and proline. The expression patterns of StGATA family genes were altered in response to salinity and osmotic stress. StGATA12 protein is located in the nucleus. StGATA12 is involved in the regulation of potato plant growth in response to salinity and osmotic stress. Overexpression of StGATA12 promoted photosynthesis, transpiration, and stomatal conductance under salinity and osmotic stress. StGATA12 overexpression induced biochemical responses of potato plants to salinity and osmotic stress by regulating the levels of H2O2, MDA, and proline and the activity of CAT, SOD, and POD. StGATA12 overexpression induced the up-regulation of StCAT, StSOD, StPOD, and StP5CS against salinity and osmotic stress. StGATA12 could reinforce the ability of potato plants to resist salinity and osmosis-induced damages, which may provide an effective strategy to engineer potato plants for better adaptability to adverse salinity and osmotic conditions.

PpGATA4 mediates fruit softening and transcriptionally regulates PpEXPA1 in peach (Prunus persica)

Softening during fruit ripening often exacerbates mechanical damage during postharvest processing and increases susceptibility to pathogens. According to current research, the fruit softening process is closely related to the degradation of the cell wall. The nonenzymatic protein expansin (EXP) is a key cell wall loosening agent involved in cell growth and cell wall degradation. However, the transcriptional regulation of EXPs during peach fruit softening remains unclear. In this study, the transcription factor PpGATA4 was found to be involved in the postharvest softening of peach fruit. To better understand the regulatory mechanisms involved, the GATA gene family in peach (Prunus persica) was identified. Analysis of the transcriptomes of the transient overexpression and postharvest storage stages of peach revealed that an expansin gene, PpEXPA1, was related to PpGATA4. Further studies revealed a regulatory model in which PpGATA4 could transactivate the expression of PpEXPA1.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of GATA2 Expression in Endometrium and its Relationship with Hormone Receptor Expression in Benign and Premalignant Endometrial Disorders

The GATA gene family encodes highly conserved zinc-finger transcription factors that facilitate the development and function of multiple organ systems including the uterus. In the endometrium, GATA2 functions in a positive autoregulatory loop with the progesterone receptor (PGR) and colocalizes with PGR on chromatin to promote PGR transcriptional programs. GATA2 also has PGR-independent functions that maintain endometrial cell identity, and GATA2 transcripts reportedly are down-regulated in endometrial disorders including endometriosis. This event is accompanied by a reciprocal increase in GATA6. Here, we applied custom anti-GATA2 monoclonal antibodies and performed GATA2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) on patient endometrial tissues corresponding to proliferative, secretory, inactive, and hormone-treated endometrium, as well as endometriosis and endometrial atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (EAH/EIN). We also performed IHC for the estrogen receptor, PGR, and GATA6 in relevant groups. The results reveal a tight correlation between GATA2 and PGR expression in the glandular and stromal cells of benign endometrium. GATA2 expression is markedly reduced in stromal but not glandular cells in endometriosis and EAH/EIN. This reduction in GATA2 expression does not lead to a detectable increase in GATA6 expression in endometriosis. Although average glandular GATA2 expression was preserved in endometriosis and EAH/EIN cases, its expression was decoupled from PGR, implying that alternative pathways regulate GATA2 levels in these disorders. Our findings indicate that GATA2 dysregulation is a feature of endometriosis and EAH/EIN, and support a model whereby loss of stromal GATA2 in these disorders contributes to their progesterone insensitivity.

Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution, and Characterization of GATA Gene Family and GATA Gene Expression Analysis Post-MeJA Treatment in Platycodon grandiflorum

Genome-Wide Identification, Evolution, and Characterization of GATA Gene Family and GATA Gene Expression Analysis Post-MeJA Treatment in Platycodon grandiflorum

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Pattern Analysis of GATA Gene Family in Orchidaceae.

The GATA transcription factors play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. Despite extensive studies of GATA genes in many plants, their specific functions and mechanisms in orchids remain unexplored. In our study, a total of 149 GATA genes were identified in the genomes of seven sequenced orchid species (20 PeqGATAs, 23 CgGATAs, 24 CeGATAs, 23 DcaGATAs, 20 DchGATAs, 27 DnoGATAs, and 12 GelGATAs), classified into four subfamilies. Subfamily I typically contains genes with two exons, while subfamily II contains genes with two or three exons. Most members of subfamilies III and IV have seven or eight exons, with longer introns compared to subfamilies I and II. In total, 24 pairs (CgGATAs-DchGATAs), 27 pairs (DchGATAs-DnoGATAs), and 14 pairs (DnoGATAs-GelGATAs) of collinear relationships were identified. Cis-acting elements in GATA promoters were mainly enriched in abscisic acid (ABA) response elements and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elements. Expression patterns and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that GATAs are involved in the regulation of floral development in orchids. Furthermore, under high-temperature treatment, GL17420 showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, GL18180 and GL17341 exhibited a downregulation followed by upregulation and then a decrease, while GL30286 and GL20810 displayed an initial increase followed by slight inhibition and then another increase, indicating diverse regulatory mechanisms of different GATA genes under heat stress. This study explores the function of GATA genes in orchids, providing a theoretical basis and potential genetic resources for orchid breeding and stress resistance improvement.

Identification and expression profiling of SmGATA genes family involved in response to light and phytohormones in eggplant.

GATA proteins are transcription factors of zinc finger proteins, which play an important role in plant growth development and abiotic stress. However, there have been no identification or systematic studies of the GATA gene family in eggplant. In this study, 28 SmGATA genes were identified in the genome database of eggplant, which could be divided into four subgroups. Plant development, hormones, and stress-related cis-acting elements were identified in promoter regions of the SmGATA gene family. RT-qPCR indicated that 4 SmGATA genes displayed upregulated expressions during fruit developmental stage, whereas 2 SmGATA genes were down-regulated expression patterns. It was also demonstrated that SmGATA genes may be involved in light signals to regulate fruit anthocyanin biosynthesis. Furthermore, the expression patterns of SmGATA genes under ABA, GA and MeJA treatments showed that the SmGATAs were involved in the process of fruit ripening. Notably, SmGATA4 and SmGATA23 were highly correlated with the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, light-responsive genes, and genes that function in multiple hormone signaling pathways and the proteins they encoded were localized in the nucleus. All these results showed GATA genes likely play a major role in regulating fruit anthocyanin biosynthesis by integrating the light, ABA, GA and MeJA signaling pathways and provided references for further research on fruit quality in eggplant.

GATA transcription factor in common bean: A comprehensive genome-wide functional characterization, identification, and abiotic stress response evaluation

The GATA transcription factors (TFs) have been extensively studied for its regulatory role in various biological processes in many plant species. The functional and molecular mechanism of GATA TFs in regulating tolerance to abiotic stress has not yet been studied in the common bean. This study analyzed the functional identity of the GATA gene family in the P. vulgaris genome under different abiotic and phytohormonal stress. The GATA gene family was systematically investigated in the P. vulgaris genome, and 31 PvGATA TFs were identified. The study found that 18 out of 31 PvGATA genes had undergone duplication events, emphasizing the role of gene duplication in GATA gene expansion. All the PvGATA genes were classified into four significant subfamilies, with 8, 3, 6, and 13 members in each subfamily (subfamilies I, II, III, and IV), respectively. All PvGATA protein sequences contained a single GATA domain, but subfamily II members had additional domains such as CCT and tify. A total of 799 promoter cis-regulatory elements (CREs) were predicted in the PvGATAs. Additionally, we used qRT-PCR to investigate the expression profiles of five PvGATA genes in the common bean roots under abiotic conditions. The results suggest that PvGATA01/10/25/28 may play crucial roles in regulating plant resistance against salt and drought stress and may be involved in phytohormone-mediated stress signaling pathways. PvGATA28 was selected for overexpression and cloned into N. benthamiana using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines were subjected to abiotic stress, and results showed a significant tolerance of transgenic lines to stress conditions compared to wild-type counterparts. The seed germination assay suggested an extended dormancy of transgenic lines compared to wild-type lines. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PvGATA gene family, which can serve as a foundation for future research on the function of GATA TFs in abiotic stress tolerance in common bean plants.

Genome-wide identification of GATA transcription factors in tetraploid potato and expression analysis in differently colored potato flesh.

The GATA gene family belongs to a kind of transcriptional regulatory protein featuring a zinc finger motif, which is essential for plant growth and development. However, the identification of the GATA gene family in tetraploid potato is still not performed. In the present research, a total of 88 GATA genes in the tetraploid potato C88.v1 genome were identified by bioinformatics methods. These StGATA genes had an uneven distribution on 44 chromosomes, and the corresponding StGATA proteins were divided into four subfamilies (I-IV) based on phylogenetic analysis. The cis-elements of StGATA genes were identified, including multiple cis-elements related to light-responsive and hormone-responsive. The collinearity analysis indicates that segmental duplication is a key driving force for the expansion of GATA gene family in tetraploid potato, and that the GATA gene families of tetraploid potato and Arabidopsis share a closer evolutionary relationship than rice. The transcript profiling analysis showed that all 88 StGATA genes had tissue-specific expression, indicating that the StGATA gene family members participate in the development of multiple potato tissues. The RNA-seq analysis was also performed on the tuber flesh of two potato varieties with different color, and 18 differentially expressed GATA transcription factor genes were screened, of which eight genes were validated through qRT-PCR. In this study, we identified and characterized StGATA transcription factors in tetraploid potato for the first time, and screened differentially expressed genes in potato flesh with different color. It provides a theoretical basis for further understanding the StGATA gene family and its function in anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Genome-Wide Prediction and Expression Characterization of the GATA Gene Family under Nitrogen and Phosphate Deficiency in Panax ginseng

GATA transcription factors are widespread in plants, exerting crucial functions in multiple processes such as flower development, photoperiod regulation, and light signal transduction. The GATA gene family has a key role in the regulation of medicinal plant adaptation to environmental stress. However, since the publication of the Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) genome-wide data, there has never been an analysis of the whole GATA gene family. To understand the function of the GATA gene family more broadly, the GATA gene family members in P. ginseng were predicted using an in silico bioinformatics approach. A comprehensive and systematic analysis encompassing chromosome scaffold, expression pattern, gene structure, and phylogeny was conducted. The results showed that a total of 52 GATA gene family members were recognized in P. ginseng, distributed across 51 scaffolds. Each member encoded a diverse number of amino acid residues, extending from 138 to 1064. Moreover, the expression levels of PgGATA genes were significantly altered by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stresses. The expression levels of PgGATA6, PgGATA11, PgGATA27, PgGATA32, PgGATA37, PgGATA39, PgGATA40, and PgGATA50 exhibited significant elevation under N deficiency, whereas PgGATA15, PgGATA18, PgGATA34, PgGATA38, PgGATA41, and PgGATA44 genes showed substantial upregulation under P deficiency. In addition, PgGATA3, PgGATA4, PgGATA14, PgGATA19, and PgGATA28 were substantially upregulated under both N and P deficiency. This research establishes a theoretical foundation for the thorough examination of the functions of the PgGATA gene family and its regulation by N and P fertilization during P. ginseng cultivation.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of GATA Family Genes in Dimocarpus longan Lour.

GATA transcription factors, which are DNA-binding proteins with type IV zinc finger binding domains, have a role in transcriptional regulation in biological organisms. They have an indispensable role in the growth and development of plants, as well as in improvements in their ability to face various environmental stresses. To date, GATAs have been identified in many gene families, but the GATA gene in longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour) has not been studied in previous explorations. Various aspects of genes in the longan GATA family, including their identification and classification, the distribution of their positions on chromosomes, their exon/intron structures, a synteny analysis, their expression at different temperatures, concentration of PEG, early developmental stages of somatic embryos and their expression levels in different tissues, and concentrations of exogenous hormones, were investigated in this study. This study showed that the 22 DlGATAs could be divided into four subfamilies. There were 10 pairs of homologous GATA genes in the synteny analysis of DlGATA and AtGATA. Four segmental replication motifs and one pair of tandem duplication events were present among the DlGATA family members. The cis-acting elements located in promoter regions were also found to be enriched with light-responsive elements, which contained related hormone-responsive elements. In somatic embryos, DlGATA4 is upregulated for expression at the globular embryo (GE) stage. We also found that DlGATA expression was strongly up-regulated in roots and stems. The study demonstrated the expression of DlGATA under hormone (ABA and IAA) treatments in embryogenic callus of longan. Under ABA treatment, DlGATA4 was up-regulated and the other DlGATA genes did not respond significantly. Moreover, as demonstrated with qRT-PCR, the expression of DlGATA genes showed strong up-regulated expression levels under 100 μmol·L-1 concentration IAA treatment. This experiment further studied these and simulated their possible connections with a drought response mechanism, while correlating them with their expression under PEG treatment. Overall, this experiment explored the GATA genes and dug into their evolution, structure, function, and expression profile, thus providing more information for a more in-depth study of the characteristics of the GATA family of genes.

Genome-wide identification of the GATA gene family in melon (Cucumis melo) and analysis of their expression characteristics under biotic and abiotic stresses.

GATA transcription factors are an important class of transcription factors in plants, known for their roles in tissue development, signal transduction, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. To date, there have been no reports on the GATA gene family in melon (Cucumis melo). In this study, 24 CmGATA genes were identified from the melon genome. These family members exhibit significant differences in protein length, molecular weight, and theoretical isoelectric point and are primarily located in the nucleus. Based on the classification of Arabidopsis thaliana GATA members, the phylogenetic tree divided them into four groups: group I, group II, group III, and group IV, containing 10, 8, 4, and 2 genes, respectively. Notably, CmGATA genes within the same group have highly conserved protein motifs and similar exon-intron structures. The CmGATA family members are unevenly distributed across 10 chromosomes, with six pairs of segmentally duplicated genes and one pair of tandemly duplicated genes, suggesting that gene duplication may be the primary factor in the expansion of the CmGATA family. Melon shares 21, 4, 38, and 34 pairs of homologous genes with A. thaliana, Oryza sativa, Cucumis sativus, and Citrullus lanatus, respectively. The promoter regions are enriched with various cis-acting elements related to growth and development (eight types), hormone regulation (nine types), and stress responses (six types). Expression patterns indicate that different CmGATA family members are significantly expressed in seeds, roots, stems, leaves, tendrils, mesocarp, and epicarp, exhibiting distinct tissue-specific expression characteristics. Quantitative fluorescence analysis revealed that five genes, CmGATA3, CmGATA7, CmGATA16, CmGATA22, and CmGATA24, may be highly active under 48-h drought stress, while CmGATA1 and CmGATA22 may enhance melon resistance to heavy metal lead stress. Additionally, CmGATA22 and CmGATA24 are suggested to regulate melon resistance to Fusarium wilt infection. CmGATA22 appears to comprehensively regulate melon responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Lastly, potential protein interaction networks were predicted for the CmGATA family members, identifying CmGATA8 as a potential hub gene and predicting 2,230 target genes with enriched GO functions. This study preliminarily explores the expression characteristics of CmGATA genes under drought stress, heavy metal lead stress, and Fusarium wilt infection, providing a theoretical foundation for molecular mechanisms in melon improvement and stress resistance.

Analysis of GATA transcription factors and their expression patterns under abiotic stress in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

BackgroundGATA transcription factors are type IV zinc-finger proteins that play key roles in plant growth and responses to environmental stimuli. Although these proteins have been studied in model plants, the related studies of GATA gene family under abiotic stresses are rarely reported in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).ResultsIn the current study, a total of 23 VviGATA genes were identified in grapevine and classified into four groups (I, II, III, and IV), based on phylogenetic analysis. The proteins in the same group exhibited similar exon–intron structures and conserved motifs and were found to be unevenly distributed among the thirteen grapevine chromosomes. Accordingly, it is likely that segmental and tandem duplication events contributed to the expansion of the VviGATA gene family. Analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements in their promoters suggested that VviGATA genes respond to light and are influenced by multiple hormones and stresses. Organ/tissue expression profiles showed tissue specificity for most of the VviGATA genes, and five were preferentially upregulated in different fruit developmental stages, while others were strongly induced by drought, salt and cold stress treatments. Heterologously expressed VamGATA5a, VamGATA8b, VamGATA24a, VamGATA24c and VamGATA24d from cold-resistant V. amurensis ‘Shuangyou’ showed nuclear localization and transcriptional activity was shown for VamGATA5a, VamGATA8b and VamGATA24d.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide useful information for GATA gene function analysis and aid in the understanding of stress responses in grapevine for future molecular breeding initiatives.

GATA binding protein 6 regulates apoptosis in silkworms through interaction with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase

The GATA family of genes plays various roles in crucial biological processes, such as development, cell differentiation, and disease progression. However, the roles of GATA in insects have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, a genome-wide characterization of the GATA gene family in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was conducted, revealing lineage-specific expression profiles. Notably, GATA6 is ubiquitously expressed across various developmental stages and tissues, with predominant expression in the midgut, ovaries, and Malpighian tubules. Overexpression of GATA6 inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis, whereas, in contrast, knockdown of PARP mitigates the apoptotic effects driven by GATA6 overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) has demonstrated that GATA6 can interact with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), suggesting that GATA6 may induce cell apoptosis by activating the enzyme's activity. These findings reveal a dynamic and regulatory relationship between GATA6 and PARP, suggesting a potential role for GATA6 as a key regulator in apoptosis through its interaction with PARP. This research deepens the understanding of the diverse roles of the GATA family in insects, shedding light on new avenues for studies in sericulture and pest management.

Comparative Analysis of the GATA Transcription Factors in Five Solanaceae Species and Their Responses to Salt Stress in Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.).

GATA proteins are a class of zinc-finger DNA-binding proteins that participate in diverse regulatory processes in plants, including the development processes and responses to environmental stresses. However, a comprehensive analysis of the GATA gene family has not been performed in a wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) or other Solanaceae species. There are 156 GATA genes identified in five Solanaceae species (Lycium barbarum L., Solanum lycopersicum L., Capsicum annuum L., Solanum tuberosum L., and Solanum melongena L.) in this study. Based on their phylogeny, they can be categorized into four subfamilies (I-IV). Noticeably, synteny analysis revealed that dispersed- and whole-genome duplication contributed to the expansion of the GATA gene family. Purifying selection was a major force driving the evolution of GATA genes. Moreover, the predicted cis-elements revealed the potential roles of wolfberry GATA genes in phytohormone, development, and stress responses. Furthermore, the RNA-seq analysis identified 31 LbaGATA genes with different transcript profiling under salt stress. Nine candidate genes were then selected for further verification using quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed that four candidate LbaGATA genes (LbaGATA8, LbaGATA19, LbaGATA20, and LbaGATA24) are potentially involved in salt-stress responses. In conclusion, this study contributes significantly to our understanding of the evolution and function of GATA genes among the Solanaceae species, including wolfberry.

Comprehensive Analysis and Characterization of the GATA Gene Family, with Emphasis on the GATA6 Transcription Factor in Poplar.

GATA transcription factors are ubiquitously present in eukaryotic organisms and play a crucial role in multiple biological processes, such as plant growth, stress response, and hormone signaling. However, the study of GATA factors in poplar is currently limited to a small number of proteins, despite their evident functional importance. In this investigation, we utilized the most recent genome annotation and stringent criteria to identify 38 GATA transcription factor genes in poplar. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of this gene family, encompassing phylogenetic classification, protein characterization, analysis of promoter cis-acting elements, and determination of chromosomal location. Our examination of gene duplication events indicated that both tandem and segmental duplications have contributed to the expansion of the GATA gene family in poplar, with segmental duplication potentially being a major driving force. By performing collinearity analysis of genes across six different species, we identified 74 pairs of co-linear genes, which provide valuable insights for predicting gene functions from a comparative genomics perspective. Furthermore, through the analysis of gene expression patterns, we identified five GATA genes that exhibited differential expression in leaf-stem-root tissues and eight genes that were responsive to salt stress. Of particular interest was GATA6, which displayed strong induction by salt stress and overlapped between the two gene sets. We discovered that GATA6 encodes a nuclear-localized protein with transcription activation activity, which is continuously induced by salt stress in leaf and root tissues. Moreover, we constructed a co-expression network centered around GATA6, suggesting the potential involvement of these genes in the growth, development, and response to abiotic stress processes in poplar through cell transport systems and protein modification mechanisms, such as vesicle-mediated transport, intracellular transport, ubiquitination, and deubiquitination. This research provides a foundation for further exploration of the functions and mechanisms of GATA transcription factors in poplar.

Genome-wide identification, evolution and expression pattern analysis of the GATA gene family in Sorghum bicolor.

The GATA family of transcription factors is zinc finger DNA binding proteins involved in a variety of biological processes, including plant growth and development and response to biotic/abiotic stresses, and thus play an essential role in plant response to environmental changes. However, the GATA gene family of Sorghum (SbGATA) has not been systematically analyzed and reported yet. Herein, we used a variety of bioinformatics methods and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) to explore the evolution and function of the 33 SbGATA genes identified. These SbGATA genes, distributed on 10 chromosomes, are classified into four subfamilies (I-IV) containing one pair of tandem duplications and nine pairs of segment duplications, which are more closely related to the monocot Brachypodium distachyon and Oryza sativa GATA genes. The physicochemical properties of the SbGATAs are significantly different among the subfamilies, while the protein structure and conserved protein motifs are highly conserved in the subfamilies. In addition, the transcription of SbGATAs is tissue-specific during Sorghum growth and development, which allows for functional diversity in response to stress and hormones. Collectively, our study lays a theoretical foundation for an in-depth analysis of the functions, mechanisms and evolutionary relationships of SbGATA during plant growth and development.

Identification, Characterization, and Expression Profiling of Maize GATA Gene Family in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

GATA transcription factor is crucial for plant growth and development, physiological metabolism, and environmental response, which has been reported in many plants. Although the identification of maize GATA genes has been reported previously, the number of maize GATA genes was incomplete, and the expression patterns of maize GATA genes were not analyzed. Therefore, in this study, the GATA gene family of maize (Zea mays L.) was systematically analyzed. Forty-one GATA family genes were identified in the maize and were divided into four groups. The gene structure of each subgroup was basically consistent with that of the motif. The maize GATA genes were distributed on 10 chromosomes, including 3 and 17 pairs of tandem and segmental duplication genes, respectively. Fourteen types of cis-acting elements were identified in the promoter sequences of maize GATA family genes, involving four categories: light response, stress, hormone, and growth and development. The tissue-specific expression analysis of maize GATA family genes revealed that 4 GATA genes were highly expressed in almost all the maize tissues, and 11 GATA genes were not expressed in almost all tissues. The other maize GATA family genes showed a tissue-specific expression pattern. The results of RNA-seq reanalysis of publicly available transcriptome sequencing big data revealed that the gene ZmGATA37 was significantly down-regulated in response to abiotic stresses including high temperature, low temperature, drought, waterlogging, and salt, and significantly up-regulated in response to biotic stresses including smut disease, Maize Iranian mosaic virus infection, beet armyworm and aphid infestations. This indicated that the ZmGATA37 gene plays an important role in maize growth and development. Our findings offer new insight into the potential role of GATA transcription factors in abiotic and biotic stresses and provide a theoretical groundwork for the molecular mechanisms underlying maize adaptation to such stress.

Genome-Wide Identification of GATA Family Genes in Phoebe bournei and Their Transcriptional Analysis under Abiotic Stresses.

GATA transcription factors are crucial proteins in regulating transcription and are characterized by a type-IV zinc finger DNA-binding domain. They play a significant role in the growth and development of plants. While the GATA family gene has been identified in several plant species, it has not yet been reported in Phoebe bournei. In this study, 22 GATA family genes were identified from the P. bournei genome, and their physicochemical properties, chromosomal distribution, subcellular localization, phylogenetic tree, conserved motif, gene structure, cis-regulatory elements in promoters, and expression in plant tissues were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the PbGATAs were clearly divided into four subfamilies. They are unequally distributed across 11 out of 12 chromosomes, except chromosome 9. Promoter cis-elements are mostly involved in environmental stress and hormonal regulation. Further studies showed that PbGATA11 was localized to chloroplasts and expressed in five tissues, including the root bark, root xylem, stem bark, stem xylem, and leaf, which means that PbGATA11 may have a potential role in the regulation of chlorophyll synthesis. Finally, the expression profiles of four representative genes, PbGATA5, PbGATA12, PbGATA16, and PbGATA22, under drought, salinity, and temperature stress, were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that PbGATA5, PbGATA22, and PbGATA16 were significantly expressed under drought stress. PbGATA12 and PbGATA22 were significantly expressed after 8 h of low-temperature stress at 10 °C. This study concludes that the growth and development of the PbGATA family gene in P. bournei in coping with adversity stress are crucial. This study provides new ideas for studying the evolution of GATAs, provides useful information for future functional analysis of PbGATA genes, and helps better understand the abiotic stress response of P. bournei.

Systematic Characterization of GATA Transcription Factors in Liriodendron chinense and Functional Validation in Abiotic Stresses.

The Liriodendron chinense in the Magnoliaceae family is an endangered tree species useful for its socio-economic and ecological benefits. Abiotic stresses (cold, heat, and drought stress), among other factors, affect its growth, development, and distribution. However, GATA transcription factors (TFs) respond to various abiotic stresses and play a significant role in plant acclimatization to abiotic stresses. To determine the function of GATA TFs in L. chinense, we investigated the GATA genes in the genome of L. chinense. In this study, a total of 18 GATA genes were identified, which were randomly distributed on 12 of the total 17 chromosomes. These GATA genes clustered together in four separate groups based on their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and domain conservation arrangements. Detailed interspecies phylogenetic analyses of the GATA gene family demonstrated a conservation of the GATAs and a probable diversification that prompted gene diversification in plant species. In addition, the LcGATA gene family was shown to be evolutionarily closer to that of O. sativa, giving an insight into the possible LcGATA gene functions. Investigations of LcGATA gene duplication showed four gene duplicate pairs by the segmental duplication event, and these genes were a result of strong purified selection. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements demonstrated a significant representation of the abiotic stress elements in the promoter regions of the LcGATA genes. Additional gene expressions through transcriptome and qPCR analyses revealed a significant upregulation of LcGATA17, and LcGATA18 in various stresses, including heat, cold, and drought stress in all time points analyzed. We concluded that the LcGATA genes play a pivotal role in regulating abiotic stress in L. chinense. In summary, our results provide new insights into understanding of the LcGATA gene family and their regulatory functions during abiotic stresses.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of GATA Gene Family under Different Nitrogen Levels in Arachis hypogaea L.

Nitrogen, one of the essential elements, is a key determinant for improving peanut growth and yield. GATA zinc finger transcription factors have been found to be involved in regulation of nitrogen metabolism. However, a systematic characterization of the GATA gene family and patterns of their expression under different nitrogen levels remains elusive. In this study, a total of 45 GATA genes distributed among 17 chromosomes were identified in the peanut genome and classified into three subfamilies I, II and III with 26, 13 and 6 members, respectively, whose physicochemical characteristics, gene structures and conserved motifs were also analyzed. Furthermore, the optimal level of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth of peanut cultivar Yuhua 23 was determined by pod yield and value cost ratio from 2020 to 2022, and the results revealed that 150 kg hm−2 nitrogen was the best for cultivation of peanut Yuhua 23 because of its highest pod yield and relatively higher VCR of more than four. In addition, expression patterns of peanut GATA genes under different nitrogen levels were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and several GATA genes were significantly changed under a nitrogen level of 150 kg hm−2. Overall, the above results would be helpful for further understanding biological functions of the GATA gene family in cultivated peanut.