Biopolym. Cell. 2023; 39(2):110-130.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.000A8E
Genomics, Transcriptomics and Proteomics
Prediction and analysis of stress-inducible ICE transcription factors in Deschampsia antarctica
1Bublyk O. M., 1Andreev I. O., 1Kunakh V. A.
  1. Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine
    150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03143

Abstract

Aim. To study molecular genetic aspects of stress tolerance in the extremophile plant D. antarctica by exploring ICE transcription factors involved in cold stress response, regulation of stomatal development and flowering time. Methods. The DaICE genes were assembled from SRA reads homologous to orthologous genes used as a reference. The predicted genes and proteins were analyzed with bioinformatics methods. Gene expression was analyzed using the RNA-seq data. Results. Two variants of the DaICE1 gene were found: a variant that encodes a full-length protein and a variant with a large deletion, which led to the loss of the N-terminus and part of the bHLH domain in the protein product. Two variants of CDS differed by four single-nucleotide polymorphisms, three of which were synonymous, with more dissimilar promoter sequences were found for the DaICE2. The organization of promoters and the intron-exon structure of the genes were studied. For the predicted TF proteins, physico-chemical properties were determined, nuclear localization and the possibility of post-translational modifications were shown, phylogenetic analysis was carried out, conservative motifs were found, 3D structure was predicted. Gene expression was detected in most or all plant tissues and increased expression of DaICE1 variants was shown in the plants from natural conditions compared to laboratory ones. Conclusions. DaICE1 and DaICE2 are the candidate regulators of the CBF gene expression under cold stress in D. antarctica.
Keywords: antarctic plants, transcription factors, in silico prediction, abiotic stress, resistance
Full text: (PDF, in English)

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