Identification of the GATA Gene Family in Dendrobium chrysotoxum and its Functional Analysis under Salt Stress

WANG Lin; SHI Yingying; WANG Guang'an

doi:10.15933/j.cnki.1004-3268.2025.09.008

Abstract：To screen GATA genes that respond to salt stress in Dendrobium chrysotoxum,GATA gene family in Dendrobium chrysotoxum was identified using bioinformatics analysis.The expression and function of DchGATA genes under salt stress were analyzed by qRT-PCR and yeast heterologous transformation experiments.The results showed that a total of 20 DchGATA genes were identified from the genome of Dendrobium chrysotoxum,which were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes and could be categorized into four subfamilies(Class Ⅰ,Class Ⅱ,Class Ⅲ,Class Ⅳ).The physicochemical properties of DchGATA proteins showed that the amino acid residues of DchGATA proteins ranged from 140 to 609,the molecular weight was 15.31-68.23 ku,and the instability index was in the range of 42.01 to 76.67,all of which were hydrophilic and unstable nuclear proteins.The DchGATA genes had different numbers of exons and introns,and members of the same subfamily had similar numbers of exons,and all contained GATA or ZnF-GATA conserved domains.Moreover,Motif1 and Motif7 were present in the majority of DchGATA family members.Cis-acting element analysis revealed that a total of 14 types of cis-acting elements were identified in DchGATA family members,encompassing 368 cis-regulatory elements associated with light response,hormone regulation response,growth and development,and stress responses.The results of gene expression pattern analysis showed that the DchGATA genes were expressed specifically at different developmental stages,with DchGATA12,DchGATA18,DchGATA16,and DchGATA19 being highly expressed at the uncolored bud stage,while DchGATA1,DchGATA7,and DchGATA12 being highly expressed at the colored full-fowering stage.Under salt stress,the expression of DchGATA11,DchGATA15,and DchGATA18 increased with stress duration,whereas the expression of DchGATA8 decreased.The yeast transformation experiments further confirmed the important role of DchGATA2、DchGATA18、DchGATA5、DchGATA11、DchGATA15和DchGATA9 in improving salt tolerance.The GATA gene family of Dendrobium chrysotoxum has the function of regulating plant response to salt stress.