Genome-wide analysis of the VQ motif-containing gene family and expression profiles during phytohormones and abiotic stresses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

• Published in: BMC genomics Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 292
• Main Authors: Zhang, Lili, Wang, Keke, Han, Yuxuan, Yan, Luyu, Zheng, Yan, Bi, Zhenzhen, Zhang, Xin, Zhang, Xiaohong, Min, Donghong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.04.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Amino acids; Analysis; Barley; Chromosomes; Cofactors; Conserved sequence; Diseases and pests; Expression pattern; Gene duplication; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene mapping; Gene regulation; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic transcription; Genome, Plant; Genomes; Genomics; Growth; Introns; Multigene Family; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Phytohormones; Plant growth; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant hormones; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant resistance; Proteins; Reproduction (copying); Seeds; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Stresses; Subgroups; Transcription factors; Triticum - genetics; Triticum - metabolism; Triticum aestivum; VQ gene family; Wheat; China; Abiotic stress; Expression pattern; Plant hormones; VQ gene family; Wheat
• ISSN: 1471-2164; 1471-2164
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08519-3

VQ motif-containing (VQ) proteins are cofactors of transcriptional regulation that are widely involved in plant growth and development and respond to various stresses. The VQ gene family has been identified and characterized for many plants, but there is little research on VQ gene family proteins in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, 113 TaVQ genes (40 homoeologous groups) were identified in the wheat genome. TaVQ proteins all contain the conserved motif FxxhVQxhTG, and most of the TaVQ genes do not contain introns. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that TaVQ proteins can be divided into 8 subgroups (I-VIII). The chromosomal location mapping analysis indicated that TaVQ genes are disproportionally distributed on 21 wheat chromosomes. Gene duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplication significantly contributes to the expansion of the TaVQ gene family. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that the expression pattern of TaVQ genes varies in different tissues. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) found that TaVQ genes displayed different expression levels under different phytohormones and abiotic stresses. The cis-elements analysis of the promoter region demonstrated that stress responses, hormone responses, growth and development, and WRKY binding elements are all widely distributed. Additionally, a potential regulatory network between TaVQ proteins and WRKY transcription factors was visualized. This study systematically analyzed the wheat TaVQ gene family, providing a reference for further functional characterization of TaVQ genes in wheat.