Global transcriptome analysis of novel stress associated protein (SAP) genes expression dynamism of combined abiotic stresses in Oryza sativa (L.)

Abstract

Genes encoding proteins with A20/AN1 zinc-finger domains, belonging to the stress associated protein (SAP) gene family, are present in all eukaryotes and play a decisive role in plant response to diverse physiological and molecular activities particularly on biotic and abiotic stresses (AbS). In this first and foremost study, global transcriptome analysis of members of the SAP gene family was carried out in C3 model-Oryza sativa (OsSAP) aiming at the identification of OsSAP genes activated in response to unique or Combined AbS (CAbS). Based on the available spatio-temporal and phytohormonal RNA-Seq expression profile datasets, nine OsSAP genes were filtered out and identified by a differential expression signature noted in various tissues as well as plant hormones. Comparative genome ideogram of OsSAP genes confirmed the orthologous collinearity with C4 panicoid genomes. Interactome of these genes, revealed the molecular cross-talks of OsSAP. Thus, the computational expression signature of OsSAP genes led to a better understanding of gene dynamism in diverse developmental tissues/organs. Transcriptional regulation analysis of key OsSAP genes in response to stress (drought and salinity) suggested the novel role of OsSAP1, OsSAP2, OsSAP5, OsSAP7, OsSAP8 and OsSAP11 in AbS. Altogether, the study provides deeper insights on molecular characteristics of OsSAP genes, which could be deployed further to decipher their precise functional roles in AbS responses.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Keywords:

• Abiotic stress
• Oryza sativa
• OsSAP genes
• phytohormone dynamics
• RNA-Seq
• spatio-temporal

Acknowledgements

PM sincerely acknowledge the computational and bioinformatics facility provided by the Alagappa University Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (funded by DBT, GOI; File No. BT/BI/25/012/2012, BIF). The authors thankfully acknowledge DST-FIST (Grant No. SR/FST/LSI-639/2015(C)), UGC-SAP (Grant No. F.5-1/2018/DRS-II (SAP-II)) and DST-PURSE (Grant No. SR/PURSE Phase 2/38 (G)). The authors also thank RUSA 2.0 [F. 24-51/2014-U, Policy (TN Multi-Gen), Dept of Edn, GoI]. The authors sincerely thank Dr. Nunzio D'Agostino, Assistant Professor, Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy and Ms. A. Priya, Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa university, Karaikudi for vetting the manuscript.

Author contributions

M.R. and P.M. conceived and designed the experiments. P.M., R.J., A.S., K.D. performed the experiments. P.M., A.S., W.A. and S.T.K.P. analysed the results. P.M. wrote the manuscript. M.R., W.A. and S.T.K.P. revised the manuscript. M.R. approved the final version of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article.