Studying one of the regulating elements of low molecular weight glutenin gene expressions in bread wheat

Low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) play important roles in bread making quality particularly in dough strength and viscosity. Although extensive researches have been conducted into the genomic aspects of wheat LMW-GS, there are still very little reports about their regulating expression mechanisms. The purpose of current study was to obtain data which will help to address this research gap. In this study, grain gene expression analyses of two wheat cultivars with contrasting bread making qualities (Pishtaz and Navid) were carried out by RNA-Seq method at 5, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days post anthesis. RNA-Seq analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the case of most LMW-GS gene expression between two cultivars whereas differential gene expression analysis showed Navid had higher expression in certain LMW-GS genes compared with Pishtaz at all stages. Further bioinformatics analysis indicated there was a specific DNA binding domain of ERF transcription factor in upstream region of certain LMW-GS genes. Comparative analysis showed gene encoded ERF gene had higher expression level in Pishtaz rather than Navid. A complete contrast can be seen in expression pattern of ERF genes and their target genes between two cultivars, as by increasing the ERF gene expressions, the LMW-GS gene expressions were decreased in Pishtaz. These findings and their agreement with previous studies provide further support for the hypothesis that ERF transcription factors have significant roles in negative regulation of LMW-GS gene expressions.

کلیدواژه ها:

ERF ، Gluten ، LMW-GS ، RNA-Seq ، Wheat.