Germin (GER) and germin-like proteins (GLPs) play an
important
role in various plant processes.
Zea mays
contains 26 germin-like protein genes (
ZmGLPs
)
located on chromosomes 2, 4, and 10; most of which are functionally
unexplored. The present study aimed to characterize all
ZmGLPs
using the latest computational tools. All of them were studied at
a physicochemical, subcellular, structural, and functional level,
and their expression was predicted in plant development, against biotic
and abiotic stresses using various
in silico
approaches.
Overall, ZmGLPs showed greater similarity in their physicochemical
properties, domain architecture, and structure, mostly localized in
the cytoplasmic or extracellular regions. Phylogenetically, they have
a narrow genetic background with a recent history of gene duplication
events on chromosome 4. Functional analysis revealed novel enzymatic
activities of phosphoglycolate phosphatase, adenosylhomocysteinase,
phosphoglycolate phosphatase-like, osmotin/thaumatin-like, and acetohydroxy
acid isomeroreductase largely mediated by disulfide bonding. Expression
analysis revealed their crucial role in the root, root tips, crown
root, elongation and maturation zones, radicle, and cortex with the
highest expression being observed during germination and at the maturity
levels. Further,
ZmGLPs
showed strong expression
against biotic (
Aspergillus flavus
,
Colletotrichum graminicola
,
Cercospora
zeina
,
Fusarium verticillioides
, and
Fusarium virguliforme
) while
limited expression was noted against abiotic stresses. Concisely,
our results provide a platform for additional functional exploration
of the
ZmGLP
genes against various environmental
stresses.