Phylogenetic analysis and differential expression of EF1 alpha genes in soybean during development, stress and phytohormone treatments

摘要

The EF1 alpha is a multifunctional protein with additional unrelated activities to its primary function in translation. This protein is encoded by a multigene family and few studies are still available in plants. Expression of six EF1 alpha genes in Glycine max was performed using RT-qPCR and RNA-seq data to advance in the function of each gene during plant development, stress conditions and phytohormone treatments. A phylogenetic classification in Phaseoleae tribe was used to identify the G. max EF1 alpha genes (EF1 alpha 1a1, 1a2, 1b, 2a, 2b and 3). Three EF1 alpha types (1-3) were found in Phaseoleae revealing duplications in G. max types 1 and 2. EF1 alpha genes were expressed in all studied tissues, however, specific amount of each transcript was detected. In plant development, all EF1 alpha transcripts were generally more expressed in younger tissues, however, in unifoliolate leaves and cotyledons a higher expression occurred in older tissues. Five EF1 alpha genes (except 2a) were up-regulated under stress in a response tissue/stress/cultivar-dependent. EF1 alpha 3 was the most stress-induced gene linked to cultivar stress tolerance mainly in aerial tissues. Auxin, salicylate and ethylene induced differentially the EF1 alpha expression. Overall, this study provides a consistent EF1 alpha classification in Phaseoleae tribe to better understand their functional evolution. The RT-qPCR and RNA-seq EF1 alpha expression profiles were consistent, both exhibiting expression diversification of each gene (spatio-temporal, stress and phytohormone stimuli). Our results point out the EF1 alpha genes, especially EF1 alpha 3, as candidate for developing a useful tool for future G. max breeding.