In-silico identification and characterization of NAC gene family in Solanum tuberosum

Abstract

Solanum tuberosum is the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat, and maize. Plant-specific NAC transcription factor is derived from no apical meristem (NAM), Arabidopsis transcription activation factors (ATAF), and cup-shaped cotyledon (CUC) super family. The NAC gene family, as a plant-specific TF, plays crucial role in growth, production, and stress tolerance in different plants. Herein, 101 StNACs designated StNAC001 to StNAC101 were discovered and analyzed in the genome of potato. These StNAC genes have ten conserved motifs, and they were categorized into 18 sub-groups on the basis of evolutionary relationship with Arabidopsis NAC proteins. These genes were unevenly distributed over 12 chromosomes. 18 pairs of segmental duplicated StNAC genes and 15 pairs of tandem duplicated genes were analyzed. These StNAC genes were found to have high levels of acidic amino acids. Moreover, genes of the same subfamily were discovered to be related, each having the same intron-exon compositions and the same number of conserved motifs, suggesting that they may have the same functions and role in the plant. Then gene ontology, domains, subcellular localization of potato NAC genes and cis-elements of the promoter region were investigated. This study offers information on the evolution of potato NAC genes, its potential role as well as the gene resources required to completely understand the significance of the NAC family genes in potato response to stress.