Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Southwest Region, Ministry of Agriculture, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
2. National Research Centre of Intercropping, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Abstract
The Pumilio (Pum) RNA-binding protein family regulates post-transcription and plays crucial roles in stress response and growth. However, little is known about Pum in plants. In this study, a total of 19 ZmPum genes were identified and classified into two groups in maize. Although each ZmPum contains the conserved Pum domain, the ZmPum members show diversity in the gene and protein architectures, physicochemical properties, chromosomal location, collinearity, cis-elements, and expression patterns. The typical ZmPum proteins have eight α-helices repeats, except for ZmPum2, 3, 5, 7, and 14, which have fewer α-helices. Moreover, we examined the expression profiles of ZmPum genes and found their involvement in kernel development. Except for ZmPum2, ZmPum genes are expressed in maize embryos, endosperms, or whole seeds. Notably, ZmPum4, 7, and 13 exhibited dramatically high expression levels during seed development. The study not only contributes valuable information for further validating the functions of ZmPum genes but also provides insights for improvement and enhancing maize yield.
Funder
the National Natural Science Foundation of China
the Sichuan Science and Technology Program
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis