TY  - EJOU
AU  - Zhao, Tongman 
AU  - Fan, Yujie 
AU  - Cao, Yabing 
AU  - Zhao, Xiaogai 
AU  - Fan, Guoqiang 

TI  - Identification of the <i>SERK</i> Gene Family in <i>Paulownia fortunei</i> and Its Involvement in the Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2023
VL  - 92
IS  - 9
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinases (<i>SERKs</i>) are receptor-like proteins that contain leucine-rich repeats and are involved in various signaling pathways. This study identified <i>SERK</i> family members in the <i>Paulownia fortunei</i> genome and analyzed their characteristics and expression profiles using bioinformatics methods. We identified 12 <i>SERK</i> genes with relatively conserved gene structures and motifs that were distributed unevenly on eight Paulownia chromosomes. The gene promoters contained various <i>cis</i>-acting elements that regulated the expression of the <i>PfSERK</i> genes in response to hormones and abiotic stresses. Synteny analysis indicated that 10 segmental duplication events had occurred during evolution of the <i>PfSERK</i> family. The expression profile of <i>PfSERKs</i> in various tissues of <i>Paulownia fortunei</i> was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Many <i>PfSERK</i> genes can respond to drought and salt stress. Combined with RNA-seq and protein interaction network, it is speculated that <i>PfSERK3/11</i> may participate in the occurrence of Paulownia witches’ broom (PaWB) by regulating the plant height of Paulownia.
KW  - Gene expression; <i>Paulownia fortunei</i>; Paulownia witches’ broom; <i>SERK</i>

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2023.029469