Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Potato IQD Family During Development and Stress
Chao Mei, Yuwei Liu, Xue Dong, Qianna Song, Huijie Wang, Hongwei Shi, Ruiyun Feng
Abstract
Calmodulin-binding proteins belong to the IQ67 domain (IQD) gene family and play essential roles in plant development and stress responses. However, the role of IQD gene family in potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is yet to be known. In the present study, 23 StIQD s were identified in the potato genome and named StIQD 1 to StIQD 23. They were unevenly distributed on 10 of the 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis divided the IQDs into four subfamilies (IQD I–IV). StIQD s found in three of the four subfamilies. Synteny analysis confirmed that potato and tomato shared a close evolutionary relationship. Besides, RNA-Seq data analysis revealed that the expression of 19 of the 23 StIQD s was detected in at least one of the 12 tissues, and some of which showed a tissue-specific pattern. Quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction results further confirmed that 14 StIQD s responded differently to various abiotic stresses, including drought, extreme temperature, and CaCl 2 treatment, suggesting their significance in stress response. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the potato IQD gene family and lays a foundation for further analysis of the StIQD s functions in plant development and stress response.