Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the VQ gene family in soybean (Glycine max)

Yongbin Wang; Zhenfeng Jiang; Zhenxiang Li; Yuanling Zhao; Weiwei Tan; Zhaojun Liu; Shaobin Cui; Xiaoguang Yu; Jun Ma; Guangjin Wang; Wenbin Li

doi:10.7717/peerj.7509

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the VQ gene family in soybean (Glycine max)

PeerJ. 2019 Aug 21:7:e7509. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7509. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Yongbin Wang^#^{1

2}, Zhenfeng Jiang^#¹, Zhenxiang Li³, Yuanling Zhao², Weiwei Tan², Zhaojun Liu², Shaobin Cui⁴, Xiaoguang Yu⁴, Jun Ma⁴, Guangjin Wang⁵, Wenbin Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Soybean Biology in Chinese Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Soybean Biology and Breeding/Genetics of Chinese Agriculture Ministry, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
² Biotechnology Research Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
³ Harbin Normal University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
⁴ Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
⁵ Soybean Research Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: VQ proteins, the plant-specific transcription factors, are involved in plant development and multiple stresses; however, only few articles systematic reported the VQ genes in soybean.

Methods: In total, we identified 75 GmVQ genes, which were classified into 7 groups (I-VII). Conserved domain analysis indicated that VQ gene family members all contain the VQ domains. VQ genes from the same evolutionary branches of soybean shared similar motifs and structures. Promoter analysis revealed that cis-elements related to stress responses, phytohormone responses and controlling physical as well as reproductive growth. Based on the RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis, GmVQ genes were showed expressing in nine tissues, suggesting their putative function in many aspects of plant growth and development as well as response to stress in Glycine max.

Results: This study aims to understand the roles of VQ genes in various development processes and their expression patterns in responses to stimuli. Our results provide basic information in identification and classification of GmVQ genes. Further experimental analysis will allows us to know the functions of GmVQs participation in plant growth and stress responses.

Keywords: Bioinformatics; Gene expression; Glycine max; Phylogenetic analysis; VQ gene family.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Transgenic Major Program of China (No. 2016ZX08004001-006), the National Key R&D Program for Crop Breeding (No. 2016YFD0102105), the Science and Technology Program for Innovation Talents of Harbin (No. 2014RFQYJ016, No. 2014RFXYJ011) and the Project of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HAAS) (No. 2017BZ12). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.