AUTHOR=Wang Qi , Zhang Zhenbiao , Guo Cun , Zhao Xiaobo , Li Zhiyuan , Mou Yifei , Sun Quanxi , Wang Juan , Yuan Cuiling , Li Chunjuan , Cong Ping , Shan Shihua 

TITLE=Hsf transcription factor gene family in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.): genome-wide characterization and expression analysis under drought and salt stresses

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1214732

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1214732

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play important roles in plant developmental regulations and various stress responses. In present study, 46 <italic>Hsf</italic> genes in peanut (<italic>AhHsf</italic>) were identified and analyzed. The 46 <italic>AhHsf</italic> genes were classed into three groups (A, B, and C) and 14 subgroups (A1-A9, B1-B4, and C1) together with their <italic>Arabidopsis</italic> homologs according to phylogenetic analyses, and 46 <italic>AhHsf</italic> genes unequally located on 17 chromosomes. Gene structure and protein motif analysis revealed that members from the same subgroup possessed similar exon/intron and motif organization, further supporting the results of phylogenetic analyses. Gene duplication events were found in peanut <italic>Hsf</italic> gene family via syntenic analysis, which were important in <italic>Hsf</italic> gene family expansion in peanut. The expression of <italic>AhHsf</italic> genes were detected in different tissues using published data, implying that <italic>AhHsf</italic> genes may differ in function. In addition, several <italic>AhHsf</italic> genes (<italic>AhHsf5</italic>, <italic>AhHsf11</italic>, <italic>AhHsf20</italic>, <italic>AhHsf24</italic>, <italic>AhHsf30</italic>, <italic>AhHsf35</italic>) were induced by drought and salt stresses. Furthermore, the stress-induced member AhHsf20 was found to be located in nucleus. Notably, overexpression of <italic>AhHsf20</italic> was able to enhance salt tolerance. These results from this study may provide valuable information for further functional analysis of peanut <italic>Hsf</italic> genes.</p>