Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the asparagine synthetase gene family in wheat

doi:10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2025.11.027

Abstract

Abstract: Based on the protein sequences of the asparagine synthetase (ASN) gene family from Arabidopsis and maize, a genome-wide identification of the ASN gene family in wheat（Triticum aestivum L.） was conducted using bioinformatics methods, and a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical properties, conserved domains, chromosomal locations, and phylogenetic relationships of its members was performed. Meanwhile, the expression patterns of ASN genes in different wheat organs, at various developmental stages, and under biotic and abiotic stresses were systematically analyzed using transcriptome data. The results showed that all 14 identified wheat ASN family members were hydrophilic proteins and distributed on 11 chromosomes. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that wheat ASN proteins were primarily located in the cytoplasm, followed by the cytoskeleton and mitochondria. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the wheat ASN genes could be divided into three subfamilies, and the conserved motifs were similar or identical among members within the same subfamily. Cis-acting element analysis identified eight types of regulatory elements in the promoter regions, mainly including abscisic acid responsiveness, gibberellin responsiveness, drought inducibility, light responsiveness, and zein metabolism elements, suggesting that the wheat ASN family genes were involved not only in responses to various stresses but also in multiple hormone regulations. Analysis of abiotic stress responses showed that under NaCl treatment, the expression of all genes except TaASN11 was down-regulated. Under PEG-simulated drought stress, the expression of TaASN1, TaASN7, and TaASN9 was down-regulated, while that of TaASN8, TaASN10, and TaASN11 was up-regulated. After ABA treatment, the expression of TaASN9 was down-regulated, whereas the other genes were up-regulated. The 14 wheat ASN gene family members were evolutionarily conserved and widely involved in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress responses.

Key words: wheat（Triticum aestivum L.）, asparagine synthetase（ASN）, gene family, bioinformatics, identification, expression

CLC Number:

S512

XUE Yu-hang, LIU Yi-ke, NING Qiang, FANG Zheng-wu. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the asparagine synthetase gene family in wheat[J]. HUBEI AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2025, 64(11): 195-202.

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