Genome-wide analysis and expression patterns of the NAC transcription factor family in Medicago truncatula

Abstract

NAC transcription factor (TF) family proteins are expressed in various developmental stages and following various stresses. NAC TFs are involved in mediating various physiological functions of plants and participate in various signaling pathways under biotic or abiotic stress. The present study provided a comprehensive functional analysis of members of the MtNAC TF family. Via screening of Medicago truncatula genome information, we identified 97 MtNAC TFs in M. truncatula and compared the phylogenetic analysis of 14 conserved groups with their Arabidopsis and rice counterparts. The NAC TFs were categorized into 14 groups based on their conserved motifs and gene structure. The predicted M. truncatula NAC genes were distributed among eight chromosomes, and in addition, we found that these genes showed mass gene duplication. Through expression profiling of RNA-seq data analysis, we determined that NAC family members were expressed significantly under different abiotic stresses. This indicates that the NAC TF shows different functions in M. truncatula. Together, this genome-wide analysis of the NAC gene family in M. truncatula, could be applied to improving stress tolerance in plants.

Genome-wide analysis of the NAC transcription factor family and their expression during the development and ripening of the Fragaria × ananassa fruits

“…This approach has revealed functions to NAC proteins in several plants, such those implied in salt stress in Cucumis melo [ 62 ], drought responses in maize [ 63 ], abiotic stresses and stress-related phytohormone treatments in Brachypodium distachyon [ 64 ] and ethylene-responsive signaling in banana [ 22 ]. Other studies have assigned a wider range of functions to the NAC proteins using the same approach [ 52 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ]. Thus, we run a Clustal Omega alignment with all NAC protein sequences from Arabidopsis along the six developmental and ripening related NAC TFs from strawberry to predict their functions.…”

Transcriptional Regulation of Sorghum Stem Composition: Key Players Identified Through Co-expression Gene Network and Comparative Genomics Analyses

“…These numbers are relatively similar to those previously reported in these species. Previously, 105 (Ooka et al, 2003) and 117 (Nuruzzaman et al, 2010) NAC genes were identified in Arabidopsis, 288 (Pereira-Santana et al, 2015) and 163 (Hu et al, 2010) in poplar, 189 in eucalyptus (Hussey et al, 2015), 97 in barrel medic (Ling et al, 2017), 124 (Fan et al, 2014) and 152 (Shiriga et al, 2014) in maize, 147 in foxtail millet (Puranik et al, 2013), 151 (Nuruzzaman et al, 2010) and 140 (Fang et al, 2008) in rice, 107 (You et al, 2015) and 118 (Zhu et al, 2015) in brome and 131 (Sanjari et al, 2019) and 145 (Kadier et al, 2017) in sorghum.…”

Comprehensive analysis and identification of drought-responsive candidate NAC genes in three semi-arid tropics (SAT) legume crops

“…For this, a total of 107, 139, and 209 NAC protein sequences were used for chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut, respectively, including 43 well-known stress-responsive NACs from model and crop plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Medicago truncatula and Glycine max). As most of the ANACs [45,46,47], ONACs [34,48,49], MtNACs [50], and GmNACs [41] included in the phylogenetic analysis have known functions in stress responses, 22, 31, and 33 abiotic stress-responsive NAC genes in chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut, respectively, were identi ed in the present study. There could be more stress-responsive NACs, dispersed on different branches if more stress-responsive NAC proteins from model plants and crops (ANAC, ONAC, MtNAC, and GmNAC) were used -as demonstrated in soybean [44].…”

“…There could be more stress-responsive NACs, dispersed on different branches if more stress-responsive NAC proteins from model plants and crops (ANAC, ONAC, MtNAC, and GmNAC) were used -as demonstrated in soybean [44]. Considering this tree-based approach, the possible role of Ca_16946 and Cc_38151 in cold-and drought stress response has been predicted as they are clustered into one subgroup with Medtr8g094580.1 [50]. Similarly, Gm_NAC066, Ca_12660, and Cc_01304 clustered into the same subgroup; Gm_NAC065 and Cc_29871 in one group; Cc_48539 and LOC_Os03g60080.1 in one subclass indicate that these genes may be involved in drought stress response [41].…”

“…Genes Ca_18090 and Medtr5g041940.1 contribute to many stresses such as cold, drought, salicylic acid and ABA induced abiotic stress response. Genes, such as Ca_05696, Cc_30687, and Medtr8g099750.1; and Cc_04140, Ca_04187, Ah_ann1.G1V3KR.2, Ah_ann1.MI72XM.2, and Medtr3g096140.2 are closely related and have been supposed to be involved in salt and drought stress [50]. Furthermore, LOC_Os01g15640.1 and Ah_ann1.UEI6NJ.1 have been reported to be involved in multiple abiotic stresses, such as drought, cold, salinity, and heat [34,48].…”