AUTHOR=Li Yan , Zhu Shouhong , Yao Jinbo , Fang Shengtao , Li Tengyu , Li Bei , Wang Xinyu , Wang Mingyang , Wu Lanxin , Pan Jingwen , Feng Xuemei , Chen Wei , Zhang Yongshan 

TITLE=Genome-wide Characterization of the JmjC Domain-Containing Histone Demethylase Gene Family Reveals GhJMJ24 and GhJMJ49 Involving in Somatic Embryogenesis Process in Cotton

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.888983

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2022.888983

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>The Jumonji C (JmjC) domain-containing protein family, an important family of histone demethylase in plants, can directly reverse histone methylation and play important roles in various growth and development processes. In the present study, 51 <italic>JmjC</italic> genes (<italic>GhJMJs</italic>) were identified by genome-wide analysis in upland cotton (<italic>Gossypium hirsutum</italic>), which can be categorized into six distinct groups by phylogenetic analysis. Extensive syntenic relationship events were found between <italic>G. hirsutum</italic> and <italic>Theobroma cacao</italic>. We have further explored the putative molecular regulatory mechanisms of the <italic>JmjC</italic> gene family in cotton. <italic>GhJMJ24</italic> and <italic>GhJMJ49</italic> were both preferentially expressed in embryogenic callus compared to nonembryogenic callus in cotton tissue culture, which might be regulated by transcription factors and microRNAs to some extent. Further experiments indicated that GhJMJ24 and GhJMJ49 might interact with SUVH4, SUVH6, DDM1, CMT3, and CMT1 in the nucleus, potentially in association with demethylation of H3K9me2. Taken together, our results provide a foundation for future research on the biological functions of <italic>GhJMJ</italic> genes in cotton, especially in somatic embryogenesis in cotton tissue culture, which is crucial for the regeneration of transgenic plants.</p>