| Akebia trifoliata(Thunb.)Koidz.(A.trifoliata)is a perennial vine that belongs to the genus Akebia decne.Due to the development and utilization of A.trifoliata as a wild plant resource,environmental changes are often present.Therefore,it is essential to discover genes that play a significant role in environmental adaptation to further develop and utilize A.trifoliata.The DNA-Binding One Zinc Finger(Dof)transcription factor is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays a crucial role in many biological pathways,such as growth regulation,seed germination,photoperiod response,abiotic stress,and hormone metabolism,in environmental adaptive changes.This study aims to identify and analyze the expression pattern of the Dof transcription factor family in A.trifoliata through bioinformatics analysis,utilizing genome and transcriptomic data.The study is the first to characterize the Dof family of A.trifoliata,which will aid in further understanding the adaptability of A.trifoliata to environmental factors,particularly photoperiod changes.The important findings of this study are as follows:1.In this study,we utilized the genome data of A.trifoliata to identify 41 members of the Dof transcription factor family.These members were characterized by complete conserved Dof domains and were unevenly distributed across 15 chromosomes,with two members anchored to unassembled contigs.We first analyzed the characteristics of the Akt Dof genes,such as their length,number of exons,and chromosome distribution,as well as the properties of the encoded protein,including isoelectric point(PI),amino acid number(AA),molecular weight(MW),and predicted subcellular localization of protein expression.We also examined the conserved motifs and exon-intron structural features of Akt Dof genes and found that their gene structure was relatively simple,with most members lacking exons,and the motifs being conserved within each group.Furthermore,we analyzed the cis-acting elements of Akt Dof genes and discovered that they may play a role in regulating plant growth and development,affecting hormone signal transduction,participating in environmental stress response,and regulating photoperiod.These findings suggest that Akt Dof genes may be important for plant adaptation and development,and provide a foundation for further study of their function and regulation.2.This study aimed to analyze the potential evolutionary patterns of the Dof family of transcription factors in A.trifoliata.To achieve this,a phylogenetic tree was constructed using Akt Dofs protein of A.trifoliata and At Dofs protein of Arabidopsis,which were divided into 7groups based on the existing phylogenetic tree of Arabidopsis.The phylogenetic tree of Akt Dofs protein and At Dofs protein provided a basis for the subsequent function prediction of Akt Dofs.The 41 Akt Dofs were classified into 7 groups according to the existing classification basis of Arabidopsis,with each group exhibiting a relatively similar gene structure.The structure changes between groups were more significant.From an evolutionary perspective,the Akt Dof genes were produced by tandem,dispersed,and WGD or segmental duplication,with most genes being produced by WGD or segmental duplication.The genes underwent strong purification options,as evidenced by the Ka/Ks analysis of homologous gene pairs,which revealed that Akt Dofs mainly underwent purifying selection.The collinearity analysis with dicotyledons and monocotyledonous plants showed that the synteny between the Akt Dof genes and the Dof genes of dicotyledonous plants was greater than that of Dof genes of monocotyledonous plants.Further,27 Akt Dof genes may be specific to eudicots,while Akt Dof14 may be specific to basal eudicots.The 11 Akt Dof genes that are co-linear with basal eudicots,core eudicots,and monocots may have existed before the evolution of monocots.This information provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of the Dof family of transcription factors in A.trifoliata.3.The study aimed to investigate the expression pattern of Akt Dof genes through transcriptome data and q RT-PCR.Transcriptomic data revealed that the majority of Akt Dof genes displayed tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific expression patterns.In response to ABA,GA,and Me JA hormones,the Akt Dof genes generally exhibited a response,with the expression peaking at 3 h.In terms of photoperiod treatments,Akt Dof27,Akt Dof13,Akt Dof36,and Akt Dof17 were induced by light irrespective of long days(LDs)or short days(SDs).Conversely,Akt Dof26,Akt Dof16,and Akt Dof12 were repressed by light regardless of the photoperiod.Akt Dof21 was not expressed under SDs,but the expression was light-induced under the condition of LDs.Lastly,Akt Dof20 was light-induced under LDs,but light-repressed under SDs.In general,this study provides the first comprehensive overview of the A.trifoliata Dof family,encompassing gene structure,chromosome location,cis-acting elements,conserved protein motifs,and phylogenetic relationships,through analysis of both the whole genome and transcriptome.Additionally,available transcriptome data was analyzed for individual tissues at various stages,and genes involved in photoperiod and the response of Akt Dofs to hormone treatment were identified using q RT-PCR.The study’s findings offer a valuable resource for understanding the Akt Dof genes,and provide a foundation for future research on how A.trifoliata adapts to changes in environmental conditions such as sunlight duration and exogenous hormone treatment. |
