AUTHOR=Sun Aolong , Li Yongliang , He Yang , Zou Xiaoxiao , Chen Fenglin , Ji RuiZhao , You Changqiao , Yu Keyao , Li You , Xiao Wenjun , Guo Xinhong 

TITLE=Comprehensive Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of CCHC-Type Zinc Finger Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.892105

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.892105

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=The CCHC-type zinc finger proteins (CCHC-ZFPs) play versatile roles in plant growth, development and adaptation to the environment. However, little is known about the CCHC-ZFP gene family in Triticum aestivum. In the present study, we identified a total of 50 TaCCHC-ZFP genes from the 21 wheat chromosomes, which were phylogenetically classified into eight groups based on their specific motifs and gene structures. The 43 segmentally duplicated TaCCHC-ZFP genes were retrieved, which formed 36 segmental duplication gene pairs. The collinearity analyses among wheat and other eight mono/dicots revealed that no gene pairs were found between wheat and the three dicots. The promoter analyses of the TaCCHC-ZFP genes showed that 636 environmental stress-responsive and phytohormone-responsive cis-elements. The GO enrichment analysis indicated that all the TaCCHC-ZFP genes were annotated under nucleic acid binding and metal ion binding. A total of 91 miRNA binding sites were identified in 34 TaCCHC-ZFP genes according to the miRNA target analysis. Based on the public transcriptome data, the 38 TaCCHC-ZFP genes were identified as DEGs. The expression profiles of 15 TaCCHC-ZFP genes were verified by the qRT-PCR assays, and the results showed that these genes were responsive to drought or heat treatments.  Our work systematically investigated the gene structures, evolutionary features, and potential functions of TaCCHC-ZFP genes. It lays a foundation for further research and application of TaCCHC-ZFP genes in genetic improvement of T. aestivum.