Genome-wide identification and characterization of annexin family in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)
摘要
Annexins are evolutionarily conserved and multigene family of Ca2+-dependent phospholipid and cytoskeleton binding proteins. Annexins are essential for plant growth, development, and stress responses. Although annexin genes have been identified in several plant species, the knowledge about annexin families in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is still lacking. In our current study, genome-wide identification and expression analysis was carried out to understand its potential role in cowpea. Fourteen annexin protein sequences have been identified in the cowpea genome. The functional motif analysis showed the presence of 10 to 17 motifs in 14 VuAnn protein sequences. The gene structure analysis revealed the presence of 4 to 5 introns in 14 VuAnn members. The identified annexin genes were distributed among the seven chromosomes, with a maximum of 4 genes present on chromosome 11, and a single gene was located on chromosomes 2, 4, and 6. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, VuAnn members and annexins from Arabidopsis, Medicago, and rice were distributed in four groups, i.e., groups I to IV. Most annexin promoters possessed cis-regulatory elements associated with phytohormone, growth and development, and abiotic stress, thereby indicating the functional significance of annexins in abiotic stress and development-related signaling. According to expression research, annexins have significant expression across various tissues and developmental stages, which suggests they play a crucial role in plant development. Overall, our study will eventually be helpful in further research to facilitate the functional characterization of VuAnn genes and the exploration of molecular mechanisms linked to abiotic stress tolerance in cowpeas.