AUTHOR=Mei Chao , Liu Yuwei , Dong Xue , Song Qianna , Wang Huijie , Shi Hongwei , Feng Ruiyun 

TITLE=Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Potato IQD Family During Development and Stress

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.693936

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.693936

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>Calmodulin-binding proteins belong to the IQ67 domain (IQD) gene family and play essential roles in plant development and stress responses. However, the role of <italic>IQD</italic> gene family in potato (<italic>Solanum tuberosum</italic> L.) is yet to be known. In the present study, 23 <italic>StIQD</italic>s were identified in the potato genome and named <italic>StIQD</italic>1 to <italic>StIQD</italic>23. They were unevenly distributed on 10 of the 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis divided the IQDs into four subfamilies (IQD I–IV). <italic>StIQD</italic>s found in three of the four subfamilies. Synteny analysis confirmed that potato and tomato shared a close evolutionary relationship. Besides, RNA-Seq data analysis revealed that the expression of 19 of the 23 <italic>StIQD</italic>s was detected in at least one of the 12 tissues, and some of which showed a tissue-specific pattern. Quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction results further confirmed that 14 <italic>StIQD</italic>s responded differently to various abiotic stresses, including drought, extreme temperature, and CaCl<sub>2</sub> treatment, suggesting their significance in stress response. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the potato <italic>IQD</italic> gene family and lays a foundation for further analysis of the <italic>StIQD</italic>s functions in plant development and stress response.</p>