Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) proteins, one of the most important and largest transcription factor family in plants, play important roles in regulating growth and development, stress response. In recent years, many bHLH family genes have been identified and characterized in woody plants. However, a systematic analysis of the
bHLH
gene family has not been reported in
Ginkgo biloba
, the oldest relic plant species. In this study, we identifed a total of 85
GbbHLH
genes from the genomic and transcriptomic databases
of G. biloba
, which were classified into 17 subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. Gene structures analysis indicated that the number of exon–intron range in
GbbHLHs
from 0 to 12. The MEME analysis showed that two conserved motifs, motif 1 and motif 2, distributed in most GbbHLH protein. Subcellular localization analysis exhibited that most GbbHLHs located in nucleus and a few GbbHLHs were distributed in chloroplast, plasma membrane and peroxisome. Promoter
cis-element
analysis revealed that most of the
GbbHLH
genes contained abundant
cis-elements
that involved in plant growth and development, secondary metabolism biosynthesis, various abiotic stresses response. In addition, correlation analysis between gene expression and flavonoid content screened seven candidate
GbbHLH
genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, providing the targeted gene encoding transcript factor for increase the flavonoid production through genetic engineering in
G. biloba
.
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