Distribution, evolution and expression ofGATA-TFsprovide new insights into their functions in light response and fruiting body development ofTolypocladium guangdongense

Abstract

Background Fungal GATA-type transcription factors (GATA-TFs) are a class of transcriptional regulators involved in various biological processes. However, their functions are rarely analyzed systematically, especially in edible or medicinal fungi, such as Tolypocladium guangdongense, which has various medicinal and food safety properties with a broad range of potential applications in healthcare products and the pharmaceutical industry. Methods GATA-TFs in T. guangdongense (TgGATAs) were identified using InterProScan. The type, distribution, and gene structure of TgGATAs were analyzed by genome-wide analyses. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze their evolutionary relationships using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method. To explore the functions of GATA-TFs, conserved domains were analyzed using MEME, and cis-elements were predicted using the PlantCARE database. In addition, the expression patterns of TgGATAs under different light conditions and developmental stages were studied using qPCR. Results Seven TgGATAs were identified. They were randomly distributed on four chromosomes and contained one to four exons. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that GATA-TFs in each subgroup are highly conserved, especially for GATA1 to GATA5. Intron distribution analyses suggested that GATA1 and GATA3 possessed the most conserved gene structures. Light treatments induced the expression levels of TgGATA1 and TgGATA5-7, but the expression levels varied depending on the duration of illumination. The predicted protein structures indicate that TgGATA1 and TgGATA2 possess typical light-responsive domains and may function as photoreceptors to regulate downstream biological processes. TgGATA3 and TgGATA5 may be involved in nitrogen metabolism and siderophore biosynthesis, respectively. TgGATA6 and TgGATA7 possess unique Zn finger loop sequences, suggesting that they may have special functions. Furthermore, gene expression analysis indicated that TgGATA1 (WC1) was notably involved in mycelial color transformation, while other genes were involved in fruiting body development to some extent. These results provide valuable information to further explore the mechanisms through which TgGATAs are regulated during fruiting body development.

Systematic Characterization of GATA Transcription Factors in Liriodendron chinense and Functional Validation in Abiotic Stresses

“…Previous studies have also evidenced several roles of the GATA transcription factors through binding to the consensus DNA sequence (A/T)GATA(A/G) during gene transcription regulation. Fungal GATAs, a combination of both the animal and plant zinc-finger domains, regarding amino acid residues present, act as inhibitors or regulators of transcriptional activities to downstream genes in metabolic processes, cell differentiation and plant development, nitrogen metabolism [ 11 ], circadian regulation [ 12 ], siderophore production [ 13 ], and mating-type switching [ 14 ]. In plants, a poplar gene, PdGATA19/PdGNC, is involved in photosynthetic electron transfer and carbon assimilation in the leaf, cell division, and utilization of carbohydrates in the stem through regulating hormonal responses [ 4 ].…”

Dynamic Genome-Wide Transcription Profiling and Direct Target Genes of CmWC-1 Reveal Hierarchical Light Signal Transduction in Cordyceps militaris

“…GATA-TFs have been analyzed in T. guangdongens and seven TgGATAs were identified. Among them, transcripts of TgGATA1 , TgGATA5 , TgGATA6 , and TgGATA7 were induced by light [ 15 ]. Moreover, 54 C6-type genes were light regulated in T. guangdongens [ 14 ].…”