Abstract
Background
Zinc finger homeodomain (ZHD) proteins transcription factors (TFs) family occupy a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development. The ZHD TFs family had been studied in diverse organisms such as humans, Drosophila, nematode worms and plants. Especially in plants there is an extensive exploration involved in photosynthesis, defense mechanisms and responses to stress. In this further research, we will provide a better understanding of the ZHD gene family in grape.
Results
In this study, a total of 12 VvZHD genes were identified from the Grape Genome. The exploration of detailed bioinformatics found that the full length of VvZHD genes ranges from 150 bp (base pair) to 26706 bp, isoelectric points (pIs) were 6.25–9.68, molecular weights (MWs) ranged from 10.28 kilodaltons (KDa) to 97.93 kDa. Also, analysis of phylogenetic evolution showed there existed a common ancestor between Arabidopsis and grape. Ka (Nonsynonymous) / Ks (Synonymous) was lower than 1 and strong collinearity showed there were tandem duplications of genes between Arabidopsis and grape. Codon bias levels of ZHD gene family were relatively higher overall. Gene chip data analysis of cabernet sauvignon seedlings showed VvZHD genes had different expression under different time of different treatments, and with the prolongation of treatment time, most of VvZHD genes were slightly downregulated. The qRT-PCR was carried out under different hormones and stresses to verify expression profiles in grape roots and leaves. Results revealed that most VvZHD genes had higher expressions in roots but lower expressions in leaves. Also, most of the VvZHD gene members were responsed with high expressions after the treatment of ABA, IAA and MeJA in roots. However, VvZHD9, VvZHD11 and VvZHD12 were highly expressed by inducing of PEG in leaves.
Conclusions
Through genome-wide analysis and expression characterization of ZHD family genes, results showed 12 members had the diversity of function, structure and unique expression characterization under various abiotic stress and hormone treatments. This study will provide us with a newer insight on ZHD gene family of grape and promote to explore the biological functions of ZHD genes in other plants.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the NF-YB Gene Family in Gossypium hirsutum L. and Characterization of the Role of GhDNF-YB22 in Embryogenesis
