Genome-wide Analysis Of DGAT Gene Family In Maize And Cotton

Oil plays an important role in the process of plant growth and it is one of the most organic compounds in oil plants. As an important storage form of plant oil, triacylglycerols (TAG) which can store fatty acid, provide energy and participate in the synthesis of membrane lipids, were synthetized through two ways monocylglycerol pathway and glycerol phosphate pathway. Therein, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the last step of TAG biosynthesis, as the only key enzyme evolved in and with great functions. Cotton is not only the important fiber crop, but also a significant source of vegetable oil. As well, maize embryo is a vital resource of good fats. In this research, based on the prospect that use DGAT gene in maize to modify cotton seed oil contents and accumulate foundations for further improvement, DGAT gene family in maize and cotton were identified and classified by bioinformatics method. Also, system evolution, gene structure and expression pattern of DGAT gene were analyzed. The main results are obtained as follows:1. In this study, DGAT gene family in Maize was identified and classified by bioinformatic analysis. Phylogenetic relationships, gene structures and expression patterns were also investigated. It showed that a total of7maize DGAT genes were identified and divided into3subfamilies, ZmDGAT1, ZmDGAT2and ZmDGAT3, respectively, through phylogenetic analysis. Meanwhile, these7DGAT genes were distributed in5chromosomes of maize genome consisting of chromosome4,5,6,9and10. And, significant differences existed between different subgroups in gene structures and transmembrane regions, as well as expression patterns. For instance, ZmDGAT1mainly expressed in endosperms, while ZmDGAT3mainly expressed in leaves.2. After searching and comparing Gossypium raimondii and Gossypium arboreum by using BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis,5DGAT genes belonged to2subfamilies were identified and showed up obvious amplification. Further analysis indicated that different DGAT genes had different chromosome positions, gene structures, as well as the numbers and lengths of their exons and introns. In G. raimondii, GrDGAT2.I. GrDGAT2.2, GrDGAT2.3, GrDGAT2.4located on the same chromosome. G. arboreum is same to G. raimondii.3. After detecting the expression pattern of DGAT using G. raimondii and G. arboreum as the experimental materials and by quantitative reverse transcription (RT) PCR, the results show all these5genes expressed in cotton tissues, but with different expression intensity. For example, GrDGAT1.1is specifically expressed in the ovule, while GrDGAT2.1show specific expression in old leaf.