AUTHOR=Guo Jie , Bai Xionghui , Dai Keli , Yuan Xiangyang , Guo Pingyi , Zhou Meixue , Shi Weiping , Hao Chenyang 

TITLE=Identification of GATA Transcription Factors in Brachypodium distachyon and Functional Characterization of BdGATA13 in Drought Tolerance and Response to Gibberellins

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.763665

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.763665

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>GATA transcription factors (TFs) are type IV zinc-finger proteins that have roles in plant development and growth. The 27 GATA TFs identified in the <italic>Brachypodium distachyon</italic> genome in this study were unevenly distributed across all five chromosomes and classified into four subgroups. Phylogenesis-related GATAs shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Expression profiles showed that all <italic>BdGATA</italic> genes were expressed in leaves and most were induced by PEG treatment. <italic>BdGATA13</italic> was predominantly expressed in leaf tissue and phylogenetically close to <italic>OsSNFL1</italic>, <italic>AtGNC</italic>, and <italic>AtGNL</italic>. Its protein was detected in the nucleus by subcellular localization analysis. Overexpression of <italic>BdGATA13</italic> in transgenic <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> resulted in darker green leaves, later flowering, and more importantly, enhanced drought tolerance compared to the wild type. <italic>BdGATA13</italic> also promoted primary root development under GA treatment. These results lay a foundation for better understanding the function of <italic>GATA</italic> genes in <italic>B. distachyon</italic> and other plants.</p>