Abstract Detail

Comparative Genomics/Transcriptomics

Schweitzer, Sarah [2], Neupane, Surendra [2], Andersen, Ethan [2], Zhou, Ruanbao [2], Fenell, Anne [1], Nepal, Madhav [2].

Genome-wide Identification of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAP Kinase) Cascade Genes in Sunflower.

Plants are constantly exposed to both biotic and abiotic stresses; as a result, they have evolved mechanisms to cope with the changing environment. At the molecular level, Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP Kinase) cascade, a gene family with many genes, acts as a resistance response against environmental stresses. The MAP Kinase gene family is classified into three major subfamilies: MAP Kinase (MAPK), MAPK Kinase (MAPKK), and MAPKK Kinase (MAPKKK). The MAPKKK family is subdivided into Zik, Raf, MEKK. The objectives of this project were to conduct genome-wide identification of the MAP Kinase genes in Sunflower, and to assess diversity and evolution of these genes across 11 species. These species, at various taxonomic levels, included Amborella tricopoda, Aquilegia coerula, Arabidopsis thaliana, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Daucus carota, Glycine max, Oryza sativa, Solanum lycopersicum, Sphagnum fallax and Vitis vinifera. Using Arabidopsis thaliana reference sequences, the genomes of aforementioned species were acquired from various databases such as phytozome.org and sunflower.org. Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiling was used to identify potential MAP Kinase genes in respective proteins sequences of the species.The sequences were examined for the presence of MAPK specific serine/threonine domains using various bioinformatics tools. Our results show that H. annuus genome contains 28 MAPK genes, 10 MAPKK genes, 167 MAPKKK genes (with 28 MEKKs, 127 Rafs, and 12 Ziks). Sunflower genome contains highest diversity of MAPK cascade genes among the species included in this study. It also contains the highest number of Raf genes compared to the other eight species. Evolutionary analyses of MAPK cascades 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 ton land.

Related Links:
SDSU Nepal Lab

1 - South Dakota State University, Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Sciences, McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
2 - South Dakota State University, Biology And Microbiology, McFadden Biostress Laboratory, Brookings, SD, 57006, USA

Keywords:
MAP Kinase Gene Family
Abiotic Stress 
Signal Transduction Pathway
MAPK
MAPKK
MAPKKK
Zik
Raf
MEKK
.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics
Location: Grand Ballroom - Exhibit Hall/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 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: PGT002
Abstract ID:105
Candidate for Awards:None