Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of GRAS Gene Family in Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

Genes (Basel). 2022 Dec 29;14(1):96. doi: 10.3390/genes14010096.

Abstract

GRAS family proteins are one of the most abundant transcription factors in plants; they play crucial roles in plant development, metabolism, and biotic- and abiotic-stress responses. The GRAS family has been identified and functionally characterized in some plant species. However, this family in ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a medicinal crop and non-prescription drug, remains unknown to date. In the present study, 66 GRAS genes were identified by searching the complete genome sequence of ginger. The GRAS family is divided into nine subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analyses. The GRAS genes are distributed unevenly across 11 chromosomes. By analyzing the gene structure and motif distribution of GRAS members in ginger, we found that the GRAS genes have more than one cis-acting element. Chromosomal location and duplication analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication, tandem duplication, and segmental duplication may be responsible for the expansion of the GRAS family in ginger. The expression levels of GRAS family genes are different in ginger roots and stems, indicating that these genes may have an impact on ginger development. In addition, the GRAS genes in ginger showed extensive expression patterns under different abiotic stresses, suggesting that they may play important roles in the stress response. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of GRAS members in ginger for the first time, which will help to better explore the function of GRAS genes in the regulation of tissue development and response to stress in ginger.

Keywords: GRAS family; gene expression; ginger; phylogenetic analyses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Genome, Plant
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Development
  • Zingiber officinale* / genetics

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (KJZD-M202101301), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32270237), the Foundation for High-Level Talents of Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences (P2021YL11 and R2018STZ25), and Chongqing Science and Technology support projects (CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1263).