Identification and Evolution of the WUSCHEL-Related Homeobox Protein Family in Bambusoideae.

Bamboos (Bambusoideae) are fast-growing species due to their rapid growth rate and ability to reproduce annually via cloned buds produced on the rhizome. WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes have been reported to regulate shoot apical meristem organization, lateral organ formation, cambium and vascular proliferation, and so on, but have rarely been studied in bamboos. In this study, the of both herbaceous bamboo species (12 and nine ) and woody bamboo species (18 , 27 , and 26 ) were identified and categorized into three clades based on their phylogenetic relationship-ancient, intermediate, or WUS clade. Polyploidy is the major driver of the expansion of the bamboo family. Eight conserved domains, besides the homeodomain, were identified by comparatively analyzing the WOXs of dicot and monocot species. Intensive purifying selection pressure in the coding region of specific domains explained the functional similarity of between different species. For Bambusoideae , polyploidy is the major driver of the expansion of the family. Stronger purifying selection was found in orthologous of Bambusoideae, especially for and , which are conserved not only at the translational levels, but also at the genome level. Several conserved -acting elements were discovered at similar position in the promoters of the orthologous s. For example, AP2/ERF protein-binding elements and B3 protein-binding elements were found in the promoters of the bamboo , while MYB protein-binding elements and Dof protein-binding elements were found in the promoters of bamboo WOX5, and MADS protein-binding sites was found in the promoters of bamboo , and . These conserved positions may play an important role in regulating the expression of bamboo . Our work provides insight into the origin and evolution of bamboo , and will facilitate functional investigations of the clonal propagation of bamboos.