AUTHOR=Dong Ye , Wang Youning , Tang Mingshuang , Chen Wang , Chai Yi , Wang Wenli 

TITLE=Bioinformatic analysis of wheat defensin gene family and function verification of candidate genes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1279502

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1279502

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Plant defensins are widely distributed in the leaves, fruits, roots, stems, seeds, and tubers. Research shows that defensin in plants play a significant role in physiological metabolism, growth and development. Plant defensins can kill and suppress a variety of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we understand the phylogenetic relationships, protein characterization, chromosomal localization, promoter and gene structural features of the <italic>TaPDFs</italic> family through sequence alignment and conserved protein structural domain analysis. A total of 73 <italic>PDF</italic> gene members in wheat, 15 <italic>PDF</italic> genes in maize, and 11 <italic>PDF</italic> genes in rice were identified. A total of 35, 65, and 34 <italic>PDF</italic> gene members were identified in the genomes of <italic>Ae. tauschii</italic>, <italic>T. urartu</italic>, and <italic>T. dicoccoides</italic>, respectively. <italic>TaPDF4.9</italic> and <italic>TaPDF2.15</italic> were constructed into pART27 vector with YFP by homologous recombination for subcellular localization analysis. Subcellular localization results showed that <italic>TaPDF4.9</italic> and <italic>TaPDF2.15</italic> were basically located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm, and <italic>TaPDF4.9</italic> was also located in the nucleus. <italic>TaPDF4.9</italic> and <italic>TaPDF2.15</italic> could inhibit the infection of <italic>Phytophthora infestans</italic> strain ‘88069’. The results suggest that <italic>TaPDFs</italic> may be able to improve disease resistance. The study of wheat defensins will be beneficial for improving wheat yield and provides a theoretical basis for research on resistance to wheat diseases.</p>