Abstract Detail

Comparative Genomics/Transcriptomics

Neupane, Surendra [1], Schweitzer, Sara [2], Kaluwahandi, Shakila [2], Bush, Charles [3], DuBray, Candy [3], Nepal, Madhav [1].

Identification and Characterization of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase (MKKK) Genes in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

Exposure to biotic and abiotic stresses led to the evolution of plant mechanisms to regulate these stresses. Mitogen activated protein kinase cascade genes classified into three different subfamilies - MAP Kinase (MPK), MAPK Kinase (MKK), and MAPKK Kinase (MKKK) encode proteins that regulate abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. The main objectives of this research were to conduct genome wide identification of MKKK genes in Helianthus annuus (sunflower), assess diversity and evolution of these genes, and understand their functional divergence. The Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profile using Arabidopsis thaliana MKKK reference sequences and filtering based on three major motifs [MEKK: G(T/S)Px(W/Y/F)MAPEV, ZIK: GTPEFMAPE(L/V)Y, Raf: GTxx(W/Y)MAPE)] revealed 153 MKKK genes (28 MEKKs, 113 Rafs and 12 ZIKs) in sunflower including 159 (38 MEKKs, 111 Rafs, 10 ZIKs) in Solanum lycopersicum, 136 MKKKs (34 MEKKs, 95 Rafs,7 ZIKs) in Daucus carota, 141 MKKs (27 MEKKs, 104 Rafs,10 ZIKs) in Aquilegia coerulea , 109 MKKKs in Sphagnum fallax (11 MEKKs, 95 Rafs, 3 ZIKs) , 79 MKKKs (15 MEKKs, 56 Rafs,8 ZIKs) in Amborella trichopoda,  73 MKKKs (5 MEKKs, 65 Rafs, 3 ZIKs) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Sunflower contains the highest number of Raf genes compared to the other six species. Evolutionary analyses of MKKK genes show unique patterns of divergence in species at various taxonomic levels, perhaps due to increased encounter of environmental challenges plants faced while transitioning to land or later continual exposure to more intense environmental challenges on land.

1 - South Dakota State University, McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Brookings, SD, 57006, United States
2 - South Dakota State University, Biology and Microbiology, McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Brookings, SD, 57006, United States
3 - Oglala Lakota College, Math, Science and Technology, 490 Piya Wiconi Road, Kyle, SD, 57752, USA

Keywords:
Abiotic Stress
Cellular signaling
Protein kinase
MAPKKK cascade
Sunflower MAPKKKs.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics Posters
Location: /
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PGT003
Abstract ID:162
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award