Genome-wide identification and comprehensive analysis of the NAC transcription factor family in Sesamum indicum

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 21;13(6):e0199262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199262. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2 (NAC) family constitutes a large family of plant-specific transcription factors, involved in many aspects of physiological processes and a variety of abiotic stresses. There is little information concerning the NAC family in Sesamum indicum. In this study, 87 sesame NAC genes were identified and phylogenetically clustered into 12 groups with Arabidopsis NAC genes. A total of 83 SiNAC genes were distributed non-randomly on the 16 linkage groups in sesame. Four and 49 SiNACs were found to be tandemly and segmentally duplicated, respectively. Expression profiles of SiNAC genes in different tissues (root, stem, leaf, flower, seed, and capsule) and in response to drought and waterlogging stresses by using RNA-seq data demonstrated that 23 genes were highly expressed in all tissues, 18 and 31 SiNACs respond strongly to drought and waterlogging stresses, respectively. In addition, the expression of 30 SiNAC genes distributed in different subgroups was analyzed with quantitative real-time RT-PCR under cold, osmotic, and salt stresses, revealed that their expression patterns vary in response to abiotic stresses. SiNAC genes displayed diverse expression patterns among the different tissues and stress treatments, suggested that their contribution to plant growth and development in sesame and multiple stress resistance in sesame. In this study, NAC transcription factors were analyzed in sesame and some specific candidate SiNAC genes in response to abiotic stress for functional study were identified. This study provides valuable information to deepen our understanding of the abiotic stress responses by NAC transcription factors in sesame.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Conserved Sequence / genetics
  • Droughts
  • Gene Duplication
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Genome, Plant*
  • Multigene Family*
  • Nucleotide Motifs / genetics
  • Organ Specificity / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sesamum / genetics*
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Opening Project of the Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, P. R. China (2017007), China Agriculture Research System (CARS-14), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP-2013-OCRI), the Opening Project of the Huanghuaihai Key Laboratory of Cotton Genetic Improvement and Cultivation Physiology, Ministry of Agriculture, P. R. China (2016KL03), the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (1610172018007) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China (ZR2018LC014). The funding bodies did not participate in the design of the study, data analysis, or writing of the manuscript.