关键词: 陆地棉; 海岛棉; 葡糖醛酸异构酶; 生物信息学; 纤维发育; 基因表达

Abstract:

[Objective] The UDP-D-glucuronate 4-epimerase (GAE) families of Gossypium hirsutum L. and G. barbadense were investigated from whole genomes to provide a theoretical basis for further studies regarding the GAE family’s function in cotton fiber development. [Methods] The GAE family was identified using bioinformatics analysis software, and the expression pattern during fiber development was analyzed using transcriptional data. [Results] In total, 21 and 22 GAE genes were systematically identified from G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively. They were classified into three subfamilies. Most of the GhGAEs and GbGAEs had no introns. They co-distributed over 12 chromosomes and contained four conserved motifs. All of the GAE proteins were predicted to localize to the Golgi membrane. On the basis of changes in the GAEs’ expression levels at different stages of fiber development, GAE proteins were divided into four categories, high expression at the initial stage, high expression at the fiber elongation stage, high expression at the secondary wall thickening period and low expression during the whole period. GhGAE01, -02, -11 and -12 and GbGAE01, -02, -11 and -21 were highly expressed in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively. These genes might play important roles in fiber development. [Conclusion] These results provide useful references for studying the GAE gene family’s function in cotton fiber development.

Key words: Gossypium hirsutum; Gossypium barbadense; UDP-D-glucuronate 4-epimerase; bioinformatics; fiber development; gene expression