Open AccessGenome-Wide Identification, Evolution and Expression Analysis of mTERF Gene Family in Maize
Author(s) -
Yanxin Zhao,
Manjun Cai,
Xiaobo Zhang,
Yurong Li,
Jianhua Zhang,
Hailiang Zhao,
Fei Kong,
Yanyan Zheng,
Fazhan Qiu
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0094126
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , gene , gene family , genome , gene duplication , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetics , gene expression , gene expression profiling , evolutionary biology
Plant mitochondrial transcription termination factor ( mTERF ) genes comprise a large family with important roles in regulating organelle gene expression. In this study, a comprehensive database search yielded 31 potential mTERF genes in maize ( Zea mays L.) and most of them were targeted to mitochondria or chloroplasts. Maize mTERF were divided into nine main groups based on phylogenetic analysis, and group IX represented the mitochondria and species-specific clade that diverged from other groups. Tandem and segmental duplication both contributed to the expansion of the mTERF gene family in the maize genome. Comprehensive expression analysis of these genes, using microarray data and RNA-seq data, revealed that these genes exhibit a variety of expression patterns. Environmental stimulus experiments revealed differential up or down-regulation expression of maize mTERF genes in seedlings exposed to light/dark, salts and plant hormones, respectively, suggesting various important roles of maize mTERF genes in light acclimation and stress-related responses. These results will be useful for elucidating the roles of mTERF genes in the growth, development and stress response of maize.