Characterization and expression analysis of growth regulating factor (GRF) family genes in cucumber

Abstract

The growth regulating factor (GRF) family is a conserved class of transcription factors involved in various biological processes in plants. However, there have been only a few studies of the GRF family genes in cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Cs). In this study, we identified and characterized 8 CsGRF genes in cucumber. Two highly conserved domains, QLQ and WRC, were identified to be present in all CsGRF proteins. In addition, three less conserved domains (FFD, TQL, and GGPL) were also detected in some CsGRF members. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the GRF genes from cucumber, Arabidopsis, tomato, rice and maize could be classified into 10 groups, and CsGRFs were clustered closer with the GRF genes from dicots (Arabidopsis and tomato) than with those from monocots (rice and maize). Promoter analysis revealed that the CsGRF genes were involved in cucumber growth and development as well as in responses to various hormones and stresses. Transcriptome data showed that the CsGRF genes have distinct expression patterns in different tissues, especially in ovaries and leaves. Expression profiling analysis indicated that all CsGRF genes were responsive to salt and drought stress treatments. These results demonstrate that the cucumber GRF gene family may function in organ development and plant stress responses.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Growth-Regulating Factor Family in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

“…More recently, with advances in gene sequencing technology, the GRF family has been studied in many plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana , O. sativa , Zea mays , Brassica napus , Cucumis sativus L., Nicotiana tabacum , and other crops. Nine members have been identified in A. thaliana , compared with 12 in O. sativa , 14 in Z. mays , 17 in rape, 35 in cucumber, and 25 in tobacco [3,4,5,6,7]. GRF family proteins contain two conserved domains in the N-terminal region; QLQ (Glu-Leu-Glu, IPR014978) and WRC (Trp-Arg-Cys, IPR014977) [2,4,8].…”

Genome-wide identification of growth-regulating factor transcription factor family related to leaf and stem development in alfalfa

“…The expression of MsGRFs in various tissues plays an important role in growth and development. It has been demonstrated in previous studies that the GRF gene family is strongly expressed in young tissues and weakly expressed in mature tissues ( Zhang et al, 2008 ; Khatun et al, 2017 ; Zheng et al, 2018 ; Zhou et al, 2018 ; Zan et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2021 ). In this study, the expression patterns of the MsGRF family were similar in leaves and stems, with high expression in young stems and leaves, which decreased with growth and development ( Figure 7 ).…”

Growth‐regulating factors: conserved and divergent roles in plant growth and development and potential value for crop improvement

“…Finally, AtGRF8 is expressed in anthers (Liang et al., 2014; Figure 1b,c). Table 1 summarizes the spatial and temporal expression patterns of GRFs in rice, maize, soybean, foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ), oilseed rape, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ), tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ), apple ( Malus × domestica ), tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ), moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ), poplar ( Populus trichocarpa ), Jatropha curcas , cassava ( Manihot esculenta ), mulberry ( Morus notabilis ), diploid woodland strawberry ( Fragaria vesca ), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ), wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ), cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ), and peach ( Prunus persica ) (D. Cao et al., 2016; J. F. Cao et al., 2020; Chen et al., 2019; Chen, Dan, & Li, 2020; Chen & Ge, 2021; Choi et al., 2004; Khatun et al., 2017; Kuijt et al., 2014; Li et al., 2021; Liu, Guo, et al., 2014; Liu, Li, et al., 2022; Lu et al., 2020; Ma et al., 2017; Rukmangada et al., 2018; Shang et al., 2018; Shi et al., 2019; Tang et al., 2021; Wang, Zhou, et al., 2020; Wu et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2018, 2021; Zhao et al., 2019; Zheng et al., 2018; Zhou et al., 2018) (Table 1).…”

“…Moreover, GRFs are regulated by microRNA396 ( miR396 ). GRFs have been identified in different plant species, including Arabidopsis thaliana , rice ( Oryza sativa ), maize ( Zea mays ), soybean ( Glycine max ), potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), oilseed rape ( Brassica napus ), moss ( Physcomitrella patens ), and other land plants (Filiz et al., 2014; Fonini et al., 2020; Hu et al., 2015; Kim, 2019; Kim et al., 2012; Kuijt et al., 2014; Li et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2012; Liu, Kabir, et al., 2022; Osnato et al., 2010; Shi et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2014; Yang et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2008; Zhou et al., 2018). In crop plants, GRFs control important agronomic traits, including grain size, grain number, plant height, panicle length and number, leaf angle, branch and spikelet number, grain shape, and seed shattering.…”