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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Abiotic Stress
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1511681

Genome-Wide Identification of the Wall-Associated Kinase (WAK) Gene Family and their Expression Patterns under Various Abiotic Stresses in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr)

Provisionally accepted
Xiangnan Li Xiangnan Li 1Sifei Qi Sifei Qi 1*Lingzhi Meng Lingzhi Meng 1Peisen Su Peisen Su 1Yongwang Sun Yongwang Sun 1NAN LI NAN LI 1Dan Wang Dan Wang 2*Yinglun Fan Yinglun Fan 1*Yong Song Yong Song 1*
  • 1 Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China
  • 2 Puyang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Henan, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The wall-associated kinase (WAK) gene family encodes functional cell wall-related proteins. These genes are widely presented in plants and serve as the receptors of plant cell membranes, which perceive the external environment changes and activate signaling pathways to participate in plant growth, development, defense, and stress response. However, the WAK gene family and the encoded proteins in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) have not been systematically investigated. In this study, 74 GmWAK genes were identified and mapped to 19 different chromosomes in the soybean genome. Seventy-four GmWAK genes were divided into four groups, and GmWAK genes in the same group shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Thirty-seven duplicate pairs were identified in 74 GmWAK genes. Segmental duplication (SD) was critical in soybean WAK gene family expansion, and purification selection occurred during evolution. The promoter cis-element analysis displayed many hormone and stress-related response elements in the promoter regions of GmWAK genes. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses showed that GmWAK genes were diversely expressed in different organs and tissues, with most actively responding to cold, heat, salt, drought, and heavy metal stresses, suggesting GmWAK genes could exhibit relevant roles in various bioprocesses. Our study suggests that GmWAK genes might be crucial in responses to abiotic stress in soybeans. The simultaneously highinduced genes under various stresses could serve as candidate genes for further functional research and molecular breeding of soybeans.

    Keywords: abiotic stresses, expression analysis, Genome-wide identification, Soybean, wallassociated kinase

    Received: 15 Oct 2024; Accepted: 02 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Li, Qi, Meng, Su, Sun, LI, Wang, Fan and Song. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Sifei Qi, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252000, Shandong Province, China
    Dan Wang, Puyang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Henan, China
    Yinglun Fan, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252000, Shandong Province, China
    Yong Song, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252000, Shandong Province, China

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