UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase: genome-wide identification, expression and functional analyses in .

In this study, a total of 66 UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) (EC 2.7.7.9) genes were identified from the genomes of four cotton species, which are the members of Pfam glycosyltransferase family (PF01702) and catalyze the reaction between glucose-1-phosphate and UTP to produce UDPG. The analysis of evolutionary relationship, gene structure, and expression provides the basis for studies on function of genes in cotton. The evolutionary tree and gene structure analysis revealed that the gene family is evolutionarily conserved. Collinearity and Ka/Ks analysis indicated that amplification of genes is due to repetitive crosstalk generating between new family genes, while being under strong selection pressure. The analysis of -acting elements exhibited that genes play important role in cotton growth, development, abiotic and hormonal stresses. Six genes that were highly expressed in cotton fiber at 15 DPA were screened by transcriptome data and qRT-PCR analysis. The addition of low concentrations of IAA and GA3 to ovule cultures revealed that energy efficiency promoted the development of ovules and fiber clusters, and qRT-PCR showed that expression of these six genes was differentially increased. These results suggest that the gene may play an important role in fiber development, and provides the opportunity to plant researchers to explore the mechanisms involve in fiber development in cotton.