AUTHOR=He Shutao , Xu Sen , He Zhengjie , Hao Xiaomeng 

TITLE=Genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of the bZIP  transcription factors in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1391248

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1391248

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>The <italic>bZIP</italic> genes (<italic>bZIPs</italic>) are essential in numerous biological processes, including development and stress responses. Despite extensive research on <italic>bZIPs</italic> in many plants, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of <italic>bZIPs</italic> in garlic has yet to be undertaken.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this study, we identified and classified 64 <italic>AsbZIP</italic> genes (<italic>AsbZIPs</italic>) into 10 subfamilies. A systematic analysis of the evolutionary characteristics of these <italic>AsbZIPs</italic>, including chromosome location, gene structure, conserved motifs, and gene duplication, was conducted. Furthermore, we also examined the nucleotide diversity, cis-acting elements, and expression profiles of <italic>AsbZIPs</italic> in various tissues and under different abiotic stresses and hormone treatments.</p></sec><sec><title>Results and Discussion</title><p>Our findings revealed that gene replication plays a crucial role in the expansion of AsbZIPs, with a minor genetic bottleneck observed during domestication. Moreover, the identification of cis-acting elements suggested potential associations of <italic>AsbZIPs</italic> with garlic development, hormone, and stress responses. Several <italic>AsbZIPs</italic> exhibited tissue-preferential and stress/hormone-responsive expression patterns. Additionally, <italic>Asa7G01972</italic> and <italic>Asa7G01379</italic> were notably differentially expressed under various stresses and hormone treatments. Subsequent yeast two-hybridization and yeast induction experiments validated their interactions with <italic>Asa1G01577</italic>, a homologue of ABI5, reinforcing their importance in hormone and abiotic stress responses. This study unveiled the characteristics of the <italic>AsbZIP</italic> superfamily and lays a solid foundation for further functional analysis of <italic>AsbZIP</italic> in garlic.</p></sec>