Genome-wide identification and characterization of AP2 gene family in Artemisia annua L.: Different tissues expression profiles

Abstract

Artemisia annua produces a mass of artemisinin, an effective drug widely used in malaria treatment. The AP2 transcription factors family which is one of the largest families in higher plants plays significant roles in growth and development regulating plant secondary metabolites and tolerances to environmental stresses. However, the available data on the contributions of the AP2 gene family in the whole genome of Artemisia annua is limited. In this study, 195 AP2 genes were identified and compared with AP2 genes from Arabidopsis thaliana. These AP2 genes in A. annua were classified into five subfamilies: DREB (85), ERF (84), AP2 (21), RAV (3), as well as two Soloists. Chromosome locations and synteny alignment of AP2 genes indicated that whole-genome duplication (WGD) gene retention and tandem repeat events contributed to the expansion of the AP2 family in A. annua. The expression profiles of root, stem, leaf, and flower of A. annua two strains revealed that ADS genes were co-expressed with AP2 genes. In addition, AaAP2_096 and AaAP2_177 were suggested to have potential in regulating artemisinin content in Artemisia annua. AaAP2_096 and AaAP2_177 might be helpful to breeding A. annua. In conclusion, our results provide a foundation for the further mechanism and function study of the AP2 gene family in A. annua, and promote their potential application in the biosynthesis of artemisinin.