AUTHOR=Li Jialin , Song Chunying , Li Hongmei , Wang Siqi , Hu Linyue , Yin Yanlei , Wang Zenghui , He Wenxing 

TITLE=Comprehensive analysis of cucumber RAV family genes and functional characterization of CsRAV1 in salt and ABA tolerance in cucumber

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1115874

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1115874

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The RAV (related to ABI3 and VP1) transcription factors are specific and exist in plants, which contain a B3 DNA binding domain and/or an APETALA2 (AP2) DNA binding domain. <italic>RAVs</italic> have been extensively studied in plants, and more and more evidences show that <italic>RAVs</italic> are involved in various aspects of plant growth and development, stress resistance and hormone signal transduction. However, the systematic analysis of <italic>RAV</italic> family in cucumber is rarely reported. In this study, eight <italic>CsRAV</italic> genes were identified in cucumber genome and we further comprehensively analyzed their protein physicochemical properties, conserved domains, gene structure and phylogenetic relationships. The synteny analysis and gene duplications of <italic>CsRAV</italic> genes were also analysed. <italic>Cis</italic>-element analysis revealed that the <italic>CsRAVs</italic> promoter contained several elements related to plant hormones and abiotic stress. Expression analysis showed that NaCl and ABA could significantly induce <italic>CsRAV</italic> genes expression. Subcellular localization revealed that all CsRAVs were localized in the nucleus. In addition, <italic>35S</italic>:<italic>CsRAV1</italic> transgenic <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> and cucumber seedlings enhanced NaCl and ABA tolerance, revealing <italic>CsRAV1</italic> may be an important regulator of abiotic stress response. In conclusion, comprehensive analysis of <italic>CsRAVs</italic> would provide certain reference for understanding the evolution and function of the <italic>CsRAV</italic> genes.</p>