Genome-Wide Analysis of GLK Gene Family in Four Cotton Species Provides Insights into Their Involvement in Cotton Abiotic Stress Response
Rui Tang,
Xin Zhou,
Shuangshuang Weng,
Fei Wang,
Rong Li,
Quanliang Xie,
Zihan Li,
Shuangquan Xie,
Aiping Cao,
Lu Zhuo,
Manhong Wang,
Hongbin Li
Affiliations
Rui Tang
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Xin Zhou
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Shuangshuang Weng
College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China
Fei Wang
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Rong Li
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Quanliang Xie
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Zihan Li
Geosystems Research Institute, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Shuangquan Xie
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Aiping Cao
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Lu Zhuo
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Manhong Wang
Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Hongbin Li
Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-Basin System Ecology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Cotton is a crucial economic crop that supplies natural fibers for the textile industry, with fiber quality being greatly impacted by abiotic stress throughout its growth stages. The Golden2-Like (GLK) gene family plays a key role in plant development and adaptation to abiotic stress. However, the specific functions and regulatory mechanisms of GLK members in cotton remain largely unexplored. In this study, a thorough analysis of GLK in four cotton species (Gossypium arboreum, G. raimondii, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense) was conducted. A total of 198 GLK genes were identified in cotton. Conserved sequence analysis revealed that most GLK proteins contain two highly conserved domains: a MYB DNA-binding domain and a C-terminal (GCT) box. Promoter element analysis results show that the GLK gene family contains many stress response-related elements. Expression analysis demonstrated that GhGLK2, GhGLK11, GhGLK16, and GhGLK30 responded significantly to drought, salt, and temperature stresses. And GhGLK2, GhGLK13, GhGLK38, GhGLK42, and GhGLK46 responded significantly to cotton development. Yeast one-hybrid, yeast two-hybrid, and dual-luciferase assay results indicate that GhGLK2 interacts with GhGUN5, GhPIL6, GhNAC6, GhTPX2, and GhERF10. These findings suggest that these GhGLKs may play crucial roles in regulating the response to abiotic stress. Overall, this study provides a solid theoretical foundation for understanding the role of the GLK gene family in cotton’s response to abiotic stress.
