A comprehensive survey of the grapevine VQ gene family and its transcriptional correlation with WRKY proteins

Frontiers in Plant Science

Min eWang¹  Yan eZhong²  Gang eWang²  Zong Ming Cheng²  Massimiliano eCorso³  Alessandro eVannozzi³  Erika eCavallini⁴ 

[1] Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences;Nanjing Agricultural University;University of Padova;University of Verona;

关键词: Gene Expression;    biotic stress;    co-expression network;    grapevine;    Drought treatment;    WRKY protein;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpls.2015.00417

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

WRKY proteins are a class of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the regulation of various physiological processes, including the plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent studies in Arabidopsis have revealed that some WRKY TFs interact with a class of proteins designed as VQ proteins because of their typical conserved motif (FxxxVQxLTG). So far, no information is available about the genomic organization and the function of VQ motif-containing protein in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L). In the current study, we analysed the 12X V1 prediction of the nearly homozygous V. vinifera PN40024 genotype identifying up to 18 predicted VQ genes (VvVQ). VvVQs phylogenetic and bioinformatic analyses indicated that the intron-exon structures and motif distribution are highly divergent between different members of the grapevine VQ family. Moreover the analysis of the V. vinifera cv. Corvina expression atlas revealed a tissue- and stage- specific expression of several members of the family which also showed a significant correlation with WRKY TFs. Grapevine VQ genes also exhibited altered expression in response to drought, powdery mildew infection, salicylic acid (SA) and ethylene (ET) treatments. The present study represent the first characterization of VQ genes in a grapevine genotype and it is a pivotal foundation for further studies aimed at functionally characterizing this mostly unknown grapevine multigenic family.

【 授权许可】

Unknown