Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization and Expression Analysis of the Gene Family in Wheat ().

Unknown functional domain (DUF) proteins constitute a large number of functionally uncharacterized protein families in eukaryotes. DUF724s play crucial roles in plants. However, the insight understanding of wheat is currently lacking. To explore the possible function of in wheat growth and development and stress response, the family members were systematically identified and characterized. In total, 14 were detected from a wheat reference genome; they are unevenly distributed across the 11 chromosomes, and, according to chromosome location, they were named to . Evolution analysis revealed that were under negative selection, and fragment replication was the main reason for family expansion. All TaDUF724s are unstable proteins; most TaDUF724s are acidic and hydrophilic. They were predicted to be located in the nucleus and chloroplast. The promoter regions of were enriched with the -elements functionally associated with growth and development, as well as being hormone-responsive. Expression profiling showed that was highly expressed in seedings, roots, leaves, stems, spikes and grains, and strongly expressed throughout the whole growth period. The 12 were post-transcription regulated by 12 wheat MicroRNA (miRNA) through cleavage and translation. RT-qPCR showed that six were regulated by biological and abiotic stresses. Conclusively, were systematically analyzed using bioinformatics methods, which laid a theoretical foundation for clarifying the function of in wheat.