Genome-wide analysis of the KNOX gene family in Moso bamboo: insights into their role in promoting the rapid shoot growth.

BACKGROUND: KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) genes, plant-specific homologous box transcription factors (TFs), play a central role in regulating plant growth, development, organ formation, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, a comprehensive genome-wide identification of the KNOX genes in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), the fastest growing plant, has not yet been conducted, and the specific biological functions of this family remain unknown. RESULTS: The expression profiles of 24 KNOX genes, divided into two subfamilies, were determined by integrating Moso bamboo genome and its transcriptional data. The KNOX gene promoters were found to contain several light and stress-related cis-acting elements. Synteny analysis revealed stronger similarity with rice KNOX genes than with Arabidopsis KNOX genes. Additionally, several conserved structural domains and motifs were identified in the KNOX proteins. The expansion of the KNOX gene family was primarily regulated by tandem duplications. Furthermore, the KNOX genes were responsive to naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and gibberellin (GA) hormones, exhibiting distinct temporal expression patterns in four different organs of Moso bamboo. Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays demonstrated that PeKNOX genes may play a role in promoting rapid shoot growth. Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO) and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network enrichment analyses revealed several functional annotations for PeKNOXs. By regulating downstream target genes, PeKNOXs are involved in the synthesis of AUX /IAA, ultimately affecting cell division and elongation. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we identified and characterized a total of 24 KNOX genes in Moso bamboo and investigated their physiological properties and conserved structural domains. To understand their functional roles, we conducted an analysis of gene expression profiles using STEM and RNA-seq data. This analysis successfully revealed regulatory networks of the KNOX genes, involving both upstream and downstream genes. Furthermore, the KNOX genes are involved in the AUX/IAA metabolic pathway, which accelerates shoot growth by influencing downstream target genes. These results provide a theoretical foundation for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid growth and establish the groundwork for future research into the functions and transcriptional regulatory networks of the KNOX gene family.

Genome-Wide Identification of Wheat KNOX Gene Family and Functional Characterization of TaKNOX14-D in Plants.

The KNOX genes play important roles in maintaining SAM and regulating the development of plant leaves. However, the TaKNOX genes in wheat are still not well understood, especially their role in abiotic stress. In this study, a total of 36 KNOX genes were identified, and we demonstrated the function of the TaKNOX14-D gene under mechanical injury and cold stress. Thirty-six TaKNOX genes were divided into two groups, and thirty-four TaKNOX genes were predicted to be located in the nucleus by Cell-PLoc. These genes contained five tandem duplications. Fifteen collinear gene pairs were exhibited in wheat and rice, one collinear gene pair was exhibited in wheat and Arabidopsis. The phylogenetic tree and motif analysis suggested that the TaKNOX gene appeared before C3 and C4 diverged. Gene structure showed that the numbers of exons and introns in TaKNOX gene are different. Wheat TaKNOX genes showed different expression patterns during the wheat growth phase, with seven TaKNOX genes being highly expressed in the whole growth period. These seven genes were also highly expressed in most tissues, and also responded to most abiotic stress. Eleven TaKNOX genes were up-regulated in the tillering node during the leaf regeneration period after mechanical damage. When treating the wheat with different hormones, the expression patterns of TaKNOX were changed, and results showed that ABA promoted TaKNOX expression and seven TaKNOX genes were up-regulated under cytokinin and auxin treatment. Overexpression of the TaKNOX14-D gene in Arabidopsis could increase the leaf size, plant height and seed size. This gene overexpression in Arabidopsis also increased the compensatory growth capacity after mechanical damage. Overexpression lines also showed high resistance to cold stress. This study provides a better understanding of the TaKNOX genes.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Pattern Analysis of KNOX Gene Family in Orchidaceae.

The establishment of lateral organs and subsequent plant architecture involves factors intrinsic to the stem apical meristem (SAM) from which they are derived. KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) genes are a family of plant-specific homeobox transcription factors that especially act in determining stem cell fate in SAM. Although KNOXs have been studied in many land plants for decades, there is a dearth of knowledge on KNOX's role in Orchidaceae, the largest and most diverse lineage of flowering plants. In this study, a total of 32 putative KNOX genes were identified in the genomes of five orchid species and further designated into two classes (Class I and Class II) based on phylogenetic relationships. Sequence analysis showed that most orchid KNOX proteins retain four conserved domains (KNOX1, KNOX2, ELK, and Homeobox_KN). Comparative analysis of gene structure showed that the exon-intron structure is conserved in the same clade but most orchids exhibited longer intron, which may be a unique feature of Orchidaceae. Cis-elements identified in the promoter region of orchid KNOXs were found mostly enriched in a function of light responsiveness, followed by MeJA and ABA responsiveness, indicative of their roles in modulating light and phytohormones. Collinear analysis unraveled a one-to-one correspondence among KNOXs in orchids, and all KNOX genes experienced strong purifying selection, indicating the conservation of this gene family has been reinforced across the Orchidaceae lineage. Expression profiles based on transcriptomic data and real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed a stem-specific expression of KNOX Class I genes and a broader expression pattern of Class II genes. Taken together, our results provided a comprehensive analysis to uncover the underlying function of KNOX genes in Orchidaceae.

The Identification and Characterization of the <i>KNOX</i> Gene Family as an Active Regulator of Leaf Development in <i>Trifolium repens</i>.

Leaves are the primary and critical feed for herbivores. They directly determine the yield and quality of legume forage. <i>Trifolium repens</i> (<i>T. repens</i>) is an indispensable legume species, widely cultivated in temperate pastures due to its nutritional value and nitrogen fixation. Although the leaves of <i>T. repens</i> are typical trifoliate, they have unusual patterns to adapt to herbivore feeding. The number of leaflets in <i>T. repens</i> affects its production and utilization. The <i>KNOX</i> gene family encodes transcriptional regulators that are vital in regulating and developing leaves. Identification and characterization of <i>TrKNOX</i> gene family as an active regulator of leaf development in <i>T. repens</i> were studied. A total of 21 <i>TrKNOX</i> genes were identified from the T. repens genome database and classified into three subgroups (Class I, Class II, and Class M) based on phylogenetic analysis. Nineteen of the genes identified had four conserved domains, except for <i>KNOX5</i> and <i>KNOX9</i>, which belong to Class M. Varying expression levels of TrKNOX genes were observed at different developmental stages and complexities of leaves. <i>KNOX9</i> was observed to upregulate the leaf complexity of T. repens. Research on <i>TrKNOX</i> genes could be novel and further assist in exploring their functions and cultivating high-quality <i>T. repens</i> varieties.