AUTHOR=Zheng Weiwei , Xu Xi-wen , E Zechen , Liu Yingjie , Chen Songlin 

TITLE=Genome-wide identification of the MAPK gene family in turbot and its involvement in abiotic and biotic stress responses

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1005401

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.1005401

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family perform crucial roles in cell division, migration, development, apoptosis, inflammatory response, and abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, very little information is available about the MAPK genes in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). In this study, 15 turbot MAPK genes (SmMAPKs) were identified on the whole genome, and their basic chemical and physical properties and subcellular localization were illustrated. All SmMAPKs contained the Serine/Threonine protein kinases, catalytic domain (S_TKc, SMART00220). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SmMAPKs were classified into three subfamilies, encompassing JNK, ERK and p38. Conserved motif and gene structure analysis revealed high levels of conservation within and between phylogenetic subfamilies. Expression patterns of MAPK genes in distinct tissues and under diverse abiotic and biotic stresses were examined using the published available RNA-seq datasets. As a result, SmMAPKs showed obviously tissue-specific expression. Furthermore, 7 and 10 candidate stress-responsive MAPK genes were detected under abiotic and biotic stress, respectively, among which 5 common MAPK genes, including SmMAPK4 (ERK4), SmMAPK6 (ERK3), SmMAPK11 (p38β), SmMAPK12b (p38γ) and SmMAPK15 (ERK7/8), shown extremely significant response to both abiotic and biotic stresses, demonstrating their potential functions in comprehensive anti-stress. These results demonstrated that MAPK genes might play vital roles in response to various abiotic and biotic stresses in turbot, as which would contribute to making scientific preventive measures to environment changes in the process of farming and promoting the development of selective breeding for comprehensive stress-resistance in turbot.