Genome wide characterization of superoxide dismutase SOD and glutathione peroxidase GPX genes in Triticum aestivum L

Abstract

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzymes protect the plants from harmful effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated under adverse conditions. Herein, the identification and characterization of SOD and GPX gene families have been performed in the genome of T. aestivum. Various characteristic features including the gene and protein architecture, cis-regulatory elements, conserved motifs and domains, physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships, etc. were analyzed using bioinformatics approaches. The interacting partners were analyzed to gain insight into the pathways regulated by these genes. Furthermore, the expression profiling of identified genes was performed using the high throughput RNA sequence (RNA seq) data that have been generated from various tissue developmental stages, and biotic and abiotic stress conditions, followed by qRT PCR analysis under abiotic stresses. Thereafter, TaCu-ZnSOD3-B and TaGPX1-D were functionally validated in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae which showed tolerance in the recombinant cells under heat, drought, their combination and salt stresses. Afterwards, the transgenic A. thaliana plants were generated for each TaCu-ZnSOD3-B and TaGPX1-D gene and the effect of salinity stress was analyzed in wild type and overexpressing transgenic lines. The study suggests that the TaCu-ZnSOD3-B gene can be potentially used for the development of abiotic stress tolerant crop in future studies. newline