Genome-Wide Identification, Evolutionary Analysis and Comprehensive In Silico Characterization of the GPAT Gene Family in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)
Aug 2026· International journal of life sciences and biotechnology· 0 citations· 48 references
TL;DR
expression analyses based on RNA-seq data showed that HaGPAT genes exhibited variable expression profiles under different tissues, contributing to a better understanding of the structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles of the HaGPAT gene family.
Abstract
Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) are enzymes involved in glycerolipid biosynthesis and play a key role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide and in silico analysis of the GPAT gene family in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has not been performed to date. In this study, the GPAT gene family in the sunflower genome was characterized using bioinformatics approaches. A total of 23 HaGPAT genes were identified; their chromosomal distributions, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, protein properties, subcellular localizations, cis-regulatory elements, miRNA targets, protein-protein interaction networks, three-dimensional protein structures, synteny relationships, duplication events, Ka/Ks ratios, and expression profiles based on RNA-seq data were analyzed. Expression analyses based on RNA-seq data showed that HaGPAT genes exhibited variable expression profiles under different tissues. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles of the HaGPAT gene family, and constitute a valuable genomic resource for future functional studies.
This study systematically characterized the Aux/IAA gene family in pumpkin, highlighting its evolutionary diversity, structural conservation, and distinct regulatory features and inform the potential roles of CmIAA genes in abiotic stress responses.
Meprin and TRAF-C homology (MATH) proteins function as adaptor molecules and components of E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. They link receptor-like kinase signalling to downstream regulatory pathways in plants. MATH proteins coordinate growth, hormone signalling, and responses to abiotic stress by modulating ubiquitin-dependent proteostasis. Despite their importance, however, little is known about the diversity, function, and specific regulatory role of the
MATH
gene family in
Brassica napus
.
We identified 151
BnMATH
family genes distributed across the 19 chromosomes of
B. napus
using a hidden Markov model-based genome-wide search followed by domain validation. Comparative phylogenetic and structural analyses classified these genes into four conserved clades, revealing that extensive segmental and tandem duplication events had driven the family expansion. Promoter analysis revealed more than 6,000 cis-acting regulatory elements associated with hormone- and stress-responsive gene expression. A total of 44 miRNA families targeting BnMATH genes were identified, among which 10 have been previously validated to be involved in biological processes. Transcriptome profiling combined with qRT-PCR validation revealed pronounced tissue-specific and abiotic-stress-responsive expression patterns. Notably,
BnMATH06
,
BnMATH92,
and
BnMATH135
were strongly induced by salt and drought stress, suggesting a potential role in stress adaptation.
These findings deepen our understanding of the
MATH
gene family and provide a robust foundation for future functional genomics research targeting their specific biological roles, particularly in hormone-driven regulation and adaptation to abiotic stress.
Fatima Maliha, Wenyu Wu, Li Long et al.· BMC Plant Biology· 0 citations
A comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the maize TALE gene family were conducted using bioinformatics approaches, followed by an investigation of their transcriptional responses to low-phosphorus (LP) stress, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary characteristics and potential biological functions.
Xian-Ting Huang, Shuang Li, Li-Tao Yi et al.· Plants· 0 citations
This study systematically characterizes the composition, expansion and stress response patterns of the GmATG gene family, revealing functional differentiation among family members.
The NSUN family is essential for RNA 5-methylcytosine modification (m5C) in eukar-yotes. However, no NSUN genes have been identified in maize, and the characteristics of ZmNSUN genes remain unexplored. Here, we performed a comprehensive in-vestigation of NSUN genes across seven Poaceae species. Our analysis identified a total of 63 Poaceae NSUN genes, including eight ZmNSUN genes in maize. Phylogenetic and feature analyses classified the Poaceae NSUNs into six subgroups (SGs), suggest-ing that the divergence of these SGs may have occurred prior to the divergence between plants and animals. Expression profiling indicated that ZmNSUN genes are generally repressed by heat stress. Co-expression network analysis suggested potential roles of ZmNSUN genes in maize development, and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis results demonstrated that expression levels of multiple ZmNSUN genes are significantly associated with maize agronomic traits. Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics of the NSUN family and highlight specific ZmNSUN genes as promising candidates for molecular breeding to improve maize yield and stress adaptability.
