Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of TALE Superfamily Genes in Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

The three-amino-acid-loop-extension (TALE) superfamily genes broadly existed in plants, which played important roles in plant growth, development and abiotic stress responses. In this study, we identified 68 Glycine max TALE (GmTALE) superfamily members. Phylogenetic analysis divided the GmTALE superfamily into the BEL1-like (BLH/BELL homeodomain) and the KNOX (KNOTTED-like homeodomain) subfamilies. Moreover, the KNOX subfamily could be further categorized into three clades (KNOX Class I, KNOX Class II and KNOX Class III). The GmTALE genes showed similarities in the gene structures in the same subfamily or clade, whose coding proteins exhibited analogous motif and conserved domain compositions. Besides, synteny analyses and evolutionary constraint evaluations of the TALE members among soybean and different species provided more clues for GmTALE superfamily evolution. The cis-element analyses in gene promoter regions and relevant gene expression profiling revealed different regulating roles of GmTALE genes during soybean plant development, saline and dehydration stresses. Genome-wide characterization, evolution, and expression profile analyses of GmTALE genes can pave the way for future gene functional research and facilitate their roles for applications in genetic improvement on soybean in saline and dehydration stresses.

TALE Transcription Factors in Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis): Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

“…By determining the ratios of K a to K s, we were able to characterize the evolutionary history and differentiation paths of CsTALE genes, which indicated that these genes have primarily evolved under the influence of purifying selection, and that KONX subfamily members appeared later than those in the BEL subfamily. These evolutionary patterns of CsTALE gene origin and divergence are similar to those reported for G. max , which thus tends to indicate that TALE gene families have evolutionarily conserved mechanisms and functions ( Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In lines with expectations, as TFs, all identified Cs TALE members are predicted to be nuclear localized. Similar to the soybean and poplar TALEs, we found that the number of amino acid residues and MWs of KNOX subfamily Cs TALEs are considerably smaller than those in the BEL subfamily ( Zhao et al, 2019 ; Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

“…TALE family genes, which are widely distributed in both plant and animal genomes, play prominent roles in numerous cellular processes, growth, and stress responses ( Wang et al, 2021 ). In recent years, benefiting from the notable advances in bioinformatics and genomic technologies, TALE family genes in A. thaliana ( Bellaoui et al, 2001 ), Solanum tuberosum ( Sharma et al, 2014 ), Gossypium hirsutum ( Ma et al, 2019 ), and G. max ( Wang et al, 2021 ) have been systematically studied and characterized. In contrast, there have been no comparable genome-wide studies and characterization of the TALE gene family in sweet orange.…”

Evolutionary Relationships and Divergence of KNOTTED1-Like Family Genes Involved in Salt Tolerance and Development in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

“…Rice KNOX7 integrates secondary wall and cell growth master regulators in internode and panicle development ( Wang et al, 2019 ). Most soybean KNOX II genes exhibited higher expression levels during saline stress ( Wang et al, 2021 ). Consistent with these results, the present expression analysis of GhKNOX3a , GhKNOX5b and GhKNL1 showed prior expression in the fiber, and GhKNL1 affected fiber development in the secondary cell wall biosynthesis pathway ( Gong et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Additional research has revealed that KNOX genes are involved in abiotic stress responses. In soybean, most KNOXII genes exhibit higher expression levels in response to saline stress and dehydration ( Wang et al, 2021 ). GmSBH1 , a member of the KNOXI clade, is involved in the response to high temperature and humidity stress in soybean seed development ( Shu et al, 2015 ).…”