Genome-Wide Analysis of APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) Gene Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) gene family is plant specific transcription factor. It plays critical roles in development process, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and responses to plant hormones. However, limited data are available on the contributions of AP2/ERF gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In the present study, 121 HvAP2/ERF genes in barley were identified by using bioinformatics methods. A total of 118 HvAP2/ERF (97.5%) genes were located on seven chromosomes. According to phylogenetic classification of AP2/ERF family in Arabidopsis, HvAP2/ERF proteins were divided into AP2 (APETALA2), RAV (Related to ABI3/VP), DREB (dehydration responsive element binding), ERF (ethylene responsive factors) and soloist sub families. The analysis of duplication events indicated that tandem repeat and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the AP2/ERF family in barley. HvDREB1s/2s genes displayed various expression patterns under abiotic stress and phytohormone. Taken together, the data generated in this study will be useful for genome-wide analysis to determine the precise role of the HvAP2/ERF gene during barley development, abiotic stress and phytohormone responses with the ultimate goal of improving crop production.

Genome-wide identification, molecular evolution, and expression analysis provide new insights into the APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily in Dimocarpus longan Lour

“…Recently, a number of draft genome sequences for both dicots and monocots have become available. Thus, genome-wide identification of the AP2/ERF superfamily members have been conducted in many plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana [1], soybean (Glycine max) [25], barley (Hordeum vulgare) [26], grape (Vitis vinifera) [27], poplar (Populus trichocarpa) [28], Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) [29], peach (Prunus persica) [30], and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) [31].…”

Stress-Mediated cis-Element Transcription Factor Interactions Interconnecting Primary and Specialized Metabolism in planta

“…This TF family is associated with a few other pleiotropic roles, like regulating stress tolerance via expression of genes involved in abiotic stress response, disease resistance and ethylene/jasmonic acid/salicylic acid response (Cui et al, 2016; Guo et al, 2016). Based on the number of AP2/ERF DNA binding domains they possess, the AP2/ERF family is further classified into four subfamilies, namely ERF, DREB (one AP2/ERF domain); AP2 (two AP2/ERF domains) and RAV (one AP2 and an additional B3 DNA binding domain; Licausi et al, 2013; Guo et al, 2016; Huang Z. et al, 2016).…”

“…This TF family is associated with a few other pleiotropic roles, like regulating stress tolerance via expression of genes involved in abiotic stress response, disease resistance and ethylene/jasmonic acid/salicylic acid response (Cui et al, 2016; Guo et al, 2016). Based on the number of AP2/ERF DNA binding domains they possess, the AP2/ERF family is further classified into four subfamilies, namely ERF, DREB (one AP2/ERF domain); AP2 (two AP2/ERF domains) and RAV (one AP2 and an additional B3 DNA binding domain; Licausi et al, 2013; Guo et al, 2016; Huang Z. et al, 2016). The ERF subfamily in Arabidopsis is regulated either via a phytohormone dependent (like Ethylene, JA, ABA, auxin, cytokinin and SA; Guo and Ecker, 2004; Arora, 2005; Cheng et al, 2013; Dey and Vlot, 2015) or independent manner ( via Ethylene Insensitive or EIN genes, stress like wounding, etc., Guo and Ecker, 2004; Arora, 2005; Dey and Vlot, 2015).…”

“…The ERF subfamily in Arabidopsis is regulated either via a phytohormone dependent (like Ethylene, JA, ABA, auxin, cytokinin and SA; Guo and Ecker, 2004; Arora, 2005; Cheng et al, 2013; Dey and Vlot, 2015) or independent manner ( via Ethylene Insensitive or EIN genes, stress like wounding, etc., Guo and Ecker, 2004; Arora, 2005; Dey and Vlot, 2015). ERFs have the ability to distinctly bind to the GCC box and DRE elements (under abiotic and biotic stress; Cheng et al, 2013; Guo et al, 2016) and upregulate downstream genes, thus forming a crucial component of stress mitigation mechanisms in plants. The DREB subfamily also plays a crucial role in abiotic stress mitigation by binding to the DRE/CRT elements (Dehydration Responsive Element/ C-Repeat Element) present upstream to stress responsive genes (like RD29A, COR15a , etc.…”

The ethylene response factor VaERF092 from Amur grape regulates the transcription factor VaWRKY33, improving cold tolerance

“…AP2/ERF TFs regulate target gene expression by binding to a cis ‐acting promoter region element known as the CRT/DRE element, or GCC‐box (Mizoi et al ., ). AP2/ERF TF genes belong to large gene families, with 122 AP2/ERF in A. thaliana (Nakano et al ., ), 139 in rice ( Oryza sativa ) (Nakano et al ., ), 200 in poplar ( Populus trichocarpa ) (Zhuang et al ., ), 149 genes in grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ) (Licausi et al ., ), 173 in willow ( Salix arbutifolia ) (Rao et al ., ) and 121 in barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) (Guo et al ., ). They are known to not only be involved in the regulation of numerous developmental processes, but also to play essential roles in adaptation to various biotic and abiotic stresses (Singh et al ., ; Mizoi et al ., ; Licausi et al ., ).…”