Mining GATA Transcription Factor Encoding Genes in The Cocoa Tree (Theobroma cacao L.) Suggests Their Potential Roles in Embryo Development and Biotic Stress Response

https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.88015

Ngoc Thi Bich Chu(1*), Thi Man Le(2), Ha Duc Chu(3), Huyen Thi Thanh Tran(4), Lan Thi Mai Tran(5), Hong Viet La(6), Quyen Thi Xuan Vu(7), Huynh Huy Phung(8), Phi Bang Cao(9)

(1) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(2) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(3) Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University Hanoi, Xuan Thuy Road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City 122300, Vietnam
(4) Faculty of Biology, Hanoi National University of Education, Xuan Thuy Road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi City 122300, Vietnam
(5) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(6) Institute of Research and Application, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, Phuc Yen City, Vinh Phuc Province 280000, Vietnam
(7) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(8) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam; Thanh Thuy Junior High School, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(9) Faculty of Natural Sciences, Hung Vuong University, Phu Tho Province 35000, Vietnam
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


GATA transcription factors (TFs) are widely recognized as significant regulators, characterized by a DNA-binding domain that consists of a type IV zinc finger motif. This TF family has been widely investigated in numerous higher plant species. The purpose of the present work was to comprehensively analyze the GATA TF in cocoa plant (Theobroma cacao L.) by using various bioinformatics tools. As a result, a total of 24 members of the GATA TFs have been identified and annotated in the assembly of the cocoa plant. According to phylogenetic analysis, these TcGATA proteins were classified into four distinct groups, including groups I (10 members), II (seven members), III (five members), and IV (two members). Next, our investigation indicated that the TcGATA proteins in different groups exhibited a high variation in their physic-chemical features due to their different protein lengths, gene structures, and conserved motif distributions, whereas the TcGATA proteins in the same clade might share the common conserved motifs. Additionally, the gene duplication of the TcGATA genes in the cocoa plant was also investigated. Of our interest, the relative expression levels of the TcGATA genes were investigated according to available transcriptome databases. The results exhibited differential expression patterns of all TcGATA genes in various developmental stages of zygotic and somatic embryogenesis, indicating that these TcGATA genes divergently function during various developmental stages of the zygotic and somatic embryos. Moreover, TcGATA genes were differently expressed under Phytophthora megakarya treatment across different points of treatment and cocoa varieties. To sum up, our findings could provide a basis for a further deep understanding of the GATAs in the cocoa plant.

 

 


Keywords


Cocoa plant, characterization, expression profiles GATA, transcription factor, identification

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