Comprehensive identification and expression analysis of genes under drought stress in maize ( L.).

BACKGROUND

FAR1/FHY3 transcription factors are derived from transposase, which play important roles in light signal transduction, growth and development, and response to stress by regulating downstream gene expression. Although many FAR1/FHY3 members have been identified in various species, the genes in maize are not well characterized and their function in drought are unknown.

METHOD

The FAR1/FHY3 family in the maize genome was identified using PlantTFDB, Pfam, Smart, and NCBI-CDD websites. In order to investigate the evolution and functions of FAR1 genes in maize, the information of protein sequences, chromosome localization, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, evolutionary relationships and tissue expression patterns were analyzed by bioinformatics, and the expression patterns under drought stress were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

A total of 24 ZmFAR members in maize genome, which can be divided into five subfamilies, with large differences in protein and gene structures among subfamilies. The promoter regions of contain abundant abiotic stress-responsive and hormone-respovensive -elements. Among them, drought-responsive -elements are quite abundant. were expressed in all tissues detected, but the expression level varies widely. The expression of were mostly down-regulated in primary roots, seminal roots, lateral roots, and mesocotyls under water deficit. Most were down-regulated in root after PEG-simulated drought stress.

CONCLUSIONS

We performed a genome-wide and systematic identification of genes in maize. And most were down-regulated in root after drought stress. These results indicate that FAR1/FHY3 transcription factors have important roles in drought stress response, which can lay a foundation for further analysis of the functions of in response to drought stress.