Working group session:
Breeding and Applied Genomics
Presentation type:
oral
Authors:
Liu, Bingliang; Pan, Mengqiao; Zhang, Tianzhen
Presenter:
Liu, Bingliang
Correspondent:
Zhang, Tianzhen
Abstract:
The basic/helix-loop-helix proteins (bHLHs) proteins are a superfamily of transcription factors that bind as dimers to specific DNA target sites and that have been well characterized in diverse biological processes. Here, we had undertaken a comprehensive computational analysis of the whole genome sequence database of G.raimondii, Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, Vitis vinifera, Theobroma cacao and Oryza sativa to define the scope and features of the bHLH family. Phylogenetic analysis of all the bHLH protein sequences permits classification of these genes into 36 subfamilies. In addition, sequence analysis of potential DNA-binding activity, the sequence motifs outside the bHLH domain, and the conservation of intron/exon structural patterns further support the evolutionary and functional relationships among these six species. Our analysis also indicated that the origin and evolutionary diversification of plant bHLHs through differential expansions, domain shuffling and extensive sequence divergence. At the functional level, this would divided into different subfamilies evolving specific DNA-binding and protein interaction activities as well as a multiplicity of transcriptional programs. We expect the comprehensive classification and evolutionary analysis of bHLHs presented here to provide a useful framework to ortholog identification. This is the first step to conclude the role of bHLH proteins in growth and development processes as well as for further to investigations into the role of the bHLH family in plant physiological functions.