Genome-wide analysis of the bHLH transcription factor family in Populus tremula

Abstract:

In order to study the classification and evolution of bHLH transcription factor family members in Populus tremula, and predicate their possible functions under drought stress, a variety of bioinformatics methods were used to identify and characterize the bHLH transcription factor in P. tremula at the whole genome level, and analyze the transcriptome of roots tissue under drought stress. The results showed that there were 167 bHLH transcription factor family proteins in P. tremula genome. By phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis bHLH protein sequence, it was divided into 15 sub-families, and 39 PtbHLH functions were predicted. These functions indicated that theses bHLHs were involved in multiple physiological processes of the growth and development of P. tremula. Gene structure and motif analysis illustrated that almost all PtbHLHs in the same subfamily have similar exon/intron and motif structure. In addition, RNA-seq data was used to analyze the expression of PtbHLH gene under drought stress, and 4 potential bHLH drought-resistant proteins were screened out.