Cheng Zhihan, Wen Shiqi, Wu Yuke, Shang Lina, Wu Lin, Lyu Dianqiu, Yu Hongtao, Wang Jichun, Jian Hongju
Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Plants (Basel). 2023 Jul 27;12(15):2790. doi: 10.3390/plants12152790.
Growth regulatory factors (GRF) are plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth and various abiotic stresses regulation. However, adaptive evolution of GRF gene family in land plants are still being elucidated. Here, we performed the evolutionary and expression analysis of GRF gene family from seven representative species. Extensive phylogenetic analyses and gene structure analysis revealed that the number of genes, QLQ domain and WRC domain identified in higher plants was significantly greater than those identified in lower plants. Besides, dispersed duplication and WGD/segmental duplication effectively promoted expansion of the GRF gene family. The expression patterns of GRF gene family and target genes were found in multiple floral organs and abundant in actively growing tissues. They were also found to be particularly expressed in response to various abiotic stresses, with stress-related elements in promoters, implying potential roles in floral development and abiotic stress. Our analysis in GRF gene family interaction network indicated the similar results that GRFs resist to abiotic stresses with the cooperation of other transcription factors like GIFs. This study provides insights into evolution in the GRF gene family, together with expression patterns valuable for future functional researches of plant abiotic stress biology.
生长调控因子（GRF）是植物特有的转录因子，在生长和各种非生物胁迫调控中起关键作用。然而，陆地植物中GRF基因家族的适应性进化仍有待阐明。在此，我们对来自七个代表性物种的GRF基因家族进行了进化和表达分析。广泛的系统发育分析和基因结构分析表明，高等植物中鉴定出的基因数量、QLQ结构域和WRC结构域显著多于低等植物。此外，分散重复和全基因组复制/片段重复有效地促进了GRF基因家族的扩展。GRF基因家族及其靶基因的表达模式在多个花器官中被发现，并且在活跃生长的组织中丰富。它们还被发现对各种非生物胁迫有特异性表达，启动子中有与胁迫相关的元件，这暗示了它们在花发育和非生物胁迫中的潜在作用。我们对GRF基因家族相互作用网络的分析表明了类似的结果，即GRF与其他转录因子（如GIF）合作抵抗非生物胁迫。本研究为GRF基因家族的进化提供了见解，同时其表达模式对未来植物非生物胁迫生物学的功能研究具有重要价值。
