DOF gene family expansion and diversification

Abstract

DOF (DNA binding with one finger) proteins are part of a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) gene family widely involved in plant development and stress responses. Many studies have uncovered their structural and functional characteristics in recent years, leading to a rising number of genome-wide identification study approaches, unveiling the DOF family expansion in angiosperm species. Nonetheless, these studies primarily concentrate on particular taxonomic groups. Identifying DOF TFs within less-represented groups is equally crucial, as it enhances our comprehension of their evolutionary history, contributions to plant phenotypic diversity, and role in adaptation. This review summarizes the main findings and progress of genome-wide identification and characterization studies of DOF TFs in Viridiplantae, exposing their roles as players in plant adaptation and a glimpse of their evolutionary history. We also present updated data on the identification and number of DOF genes in native and wild species. Altogether, these data, comprising a phylogenetic analysis of 2124 DOF homologs spanning 83 different species, will contribute to identifying new functional DOF groups, adding to our understanding of the mechanisms driving plant evolution and offering valuable insights into their potential applications.

Identification and functional analysis of the DOF gene family in Populus simonii: implications for development and stress response

“…Based on earlier research, the structure and number of gene families are not only related to the genome of a species, but also to the evolutionary process of a plant ( Lohani et al., 2021 ; Waschburger et al., 2024 ). The research revealed 41 DOF genes in P. simonii , but the count of DOF genes varied across different species.…”