@Article{phyton.2022.016951,
AUTHOR = {Huifeng Li, Qiang Zhao, Hai Wang, Qinglong Dong, Yi Xu},
TITLE = {Genome-Wide Identification, Expression Profiling and Protein-Protein Interaction Properties of the <i>BEL-Like Homeodomain</i> Gene Family in Apple},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {91},
YEAR = {2022},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {315--331},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v91n2/44600},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {BEL1-like homeodomain (BLH) family proteins are homeodomain transcription factors, which are found ubiquitously in plants and play important roles in regulating meristem and flower development. Although BLH proteins have been reported in some plant species, there is very little information available for plants in the <i>Malus</i> genus (e.g., apple tree:<i>Malus domestica</i>). In the present study, we identified 19 apple <i>MdBLH</i> genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the <i>MdBLH</i> genes could be divided into five groups. Analysis of gene structure showed that <i>MdBLH</i> gene has four exons, and the third exon was 61 bp in length. Chromosomal location analysis suggested that the <i>MdBLH</i> genes are not distributed uniformly on 12 chromosomes. Eleven <i>MdBLH</i> genes were cloned by RT-PCR, and their expression patterns were also determined. Among them, the expression levels of <i>MdBLH4.1</i> and <i>MdBLH9.1</i> could be induced by sodium chloride stress, while the expression levels of <i>MdATH1.1</i>, <i>MdBLH8.1</i>, <i>MdBLH8.3,</i> and <i>MdBLH11.1</i> were down-regulated by such stress. Transcriptional levels of <i>MdATH1.1</i> and <i>MdBLH7.2</i> were down-regulated by mannitol stress. The result of yeast two-hybrid experiment showed that MdBEL1.1 interacted with apple ovate family proteins 6 (MdOFP6), and MdBLH3.1 interacted with the MdOFP4, MdOFP6, MdOFP13, and MdOFP16 proteins. Our results provide a strong theoretical basis and a valuable reference for analyzing of the biological functions of MdBLH proteins as transcription factors in apple growth, development, and stress and also for the construction of regulatory networks.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2022.016951}
}