Abstract
Auxin response factors (ARFs) are an important family involved in auxin-mediated response through specific binding to auxin response elements (AuxREs). A few members of the ARF family have been functionally characterized in Arabidopsis, rice (Oryza sativa), Poplar (Populous trichocarpa). However, little is known about ARF genes in maize (Zea mays). We performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the maize ARF gene family including analysis of the genome sequence, conserved domains, chromosomal locations, phylogenetic relationships, gene duplication, and expression profiles. 35 ZmARF genes were identified and categorized into four groups (Class I, II, III, and IV). In addition, a segmental ZmARF duplication event was shown to play an important role in maize ARF gene expansion. 7 ZmARF genes had no expression in specific tissues we obtained, but presented in mixed tissues according to the NCBI EST database, respectively. These studies have laid the theoretical foundation for further functional verification of these ZmARF genes.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from the National Transgenic Plants Program of China (No. 2008ZX003-002) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30771309). We thank members of the Key Laboratory of Crop biology of Anhui province for their assistance in this study.
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Liu, Y., Jiang, H., Chen, W. et al. Genome-wide analysis of the auxin response factor (ARF) gene family in maize (Zea mays). Plant Growth Regul 63, 225–234 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9519-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-010-9519-0