Exploring the Roles of the / Gene Family in Maize Abiotic Stress Responses.

The maize gene family plays a crucial role in chromatin remodeling and response to environmental stresses. In this study, we identified and analyzed 35 members of the maize gene family ( to ) using the Ensembl Plants database. Each protein contained conserved SNF2-N and Helicase-C domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six groups among the Snf2 proteins, with an uneven distribution across subfamilies. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the Snf2 proteins are hydrophilic, with varied amino acid lengths, isoelectric points, and molecular weights, and are predominantly localized in the nucleus. Chromosomal mapping showed that these genes are distributed across all ten maize chromosomes. Gene structure analysis revealed diverse exon-intron arrangements, while motif analysis identified 20 conserved motifs. Collinearity analysis highlighted gene duplication events, suggesting purifying selection. Cis-regulatory element analysis suggested involvement in abiotic and biotic stress responses. Expression analysis indicated tissue-specific expression patterns and differential expression under various stress conditions. Specifically, qRT-PCR validation under drought stress showed that certain genes were upregulated at 12 h and downregulated at 24 h, revealing potential roles in drought tolerance. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the functional roles of the maize gene family in development and stress responses.