AUTHOR=Cai Tiecheng , Sharif Yasir , Zhuang Yuhui , Yang Qiang , Chen Xiangyu , Chen Kun , Chen Yuting , Gao Meijia , Dang Hao , Pan Yijing , Raza Ali , Zhang Chong , Chen Hua , Zhuang Weijian 

TITLE=In-silico identification and characterization of O-methyltransferase gene family in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) reveals their putative roles in development and stress tolerance

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1145624

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1145624

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Cultivated peanut (<italic>Arachis hypogaea</italic>) is a leading protein and oil-providing crop and food source in many countries. At the same time, it is affected by a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. O-methyltransferases (<italic>OMTs</italic>) play important roles in secondary metabolism, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. However, the <italic>OMT</italic> genes have not been comprehensively analyzed in peanut. In this study, we performed a genome-wide investigation of <italic>A. hypogaea OMT</italic> genes (<italic>AhOMTs</italic>). Gene structure, motifs distribution, phylogenetic history, genome collinearity and duplication of <italic>AhOMTs</italic> were studied in detail. Promoter <italic>cis</italic>-elements, protein-protein interactions, and micro-RNAs targeting <italic>AhOMTs</italic> were also predicted. We also comprehensively studied their expression in different tissues and under different stresses. We identified 116 <italic>OMT</italic> genes in the genome of cultivated peanut. Phylogenetically, <italic>AhOMTs</italic> were divided into three groups. Tandem and segmental duplication events played a role in the evolution of <italic>AhOMTs</italic>, and purifying selection pressure drove the duplication process. <italic>AhOMT</italic> promoters were enriched in several key <italic>cis</italic>-elements involved in growth and development, hormones, light, and defense-related activities. Micro-RNAs from 12 different families targeted 35 <italic>AhOMTs</italic>. GO enrichment analysis indicated that <italic>AhOMTs</italic> are highly enriched in transferase and catalytic activities, cellular metabolic and biosynthesis processes. Transcriptome datasets revealed that <italic>AhOMTs</italic> possessed varying expression levels in different tissues and under hormones, water, and temperature stress. Expression profiling based on qRT-PCR results also supported the transcriptome results. This study provides the theoretical basis for further work on the biological roles of <italic>AhOMT</italic> genes for developmental and stress responses.</p>