Genome-Wide Analysis Of CCCH Genes And Evolution In Zea Mays

CCCH-type zinc finger proteins are a large group among the zinc finger proteins. Genes of CCCH family encode zinc finger proteins containing themotif with three cysteines and one histidine residues.There are few maize CCCH protein in previous study. To date, there are not reaseach present the information of this zinc finger family from genome level. In this study, we used bioinformatic methods to search the CCCH genes from the genome of the maize and study the structural features and evolutionary relationship of these genes, and comparison with Arabidopsis. The results of the study will give CCCH gene cloning and stress-resistance breeding important theoretical reference. The main results are as follows:1. By BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) and HMM (Hidden Markov Model) analysis68regular CCCH genes were identified from Maize complete genome by BLAST search. According to sequences analysis, those genes (ZmC3H1-68)could be divided into7categories.2. By analysis of chromosomal locations of CCCH genes, we found that CCCH genes appeared on each chromosome was non-random. the largest numbers of CCCH genes located on chromosome3and8, chromosome7and9was less than chromosome3and8. The CCCH genes showed the not remarkable clusted phenomenon on the chromosomes. Gene duplications were analyzed for the CCCH genes of Maize, Found that gene duplication occurred in the3rd and the8th chromosome. Studies have shown that the segmental duplication events of CCCH zinc finger protein play a significant role to quantity expansion in Maize. Through the calculation of Ka/Ks ratio of gene duplication occurred in the CCCH gene that duplication in the maize experienced a purifying selection. Estimated the time of the CCCH gene segmental duplication events.4. Comparative analysis of gene structure that find of the same sub-family members of its gene structure is very similar and contained in exon and intron number is basically the same. The analysis results show that the Maize CCCH protein structure is more complex, three cysteine residues and a histidine residue of CCCH motif is highly conserved.5. We selected seven genes from predicate twelve gene that may take part in the stress response of CCCH gene in maize. The gene expression patterns in different tissues and organs were detect by qRT-PCR. Farthermore, the expression profiles in the ABA and drought stress conditions also investigated.The results indicated that the seven gene expressed in different tissues and organs, and increased the gene expression level under ABA and drought treatment.