<i>NAC</i> Gene Family in <i>Lagerstroemia indica</i>: Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, Expression Analysis, and Key Regulators Involved in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis
NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC1/2) is a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) family that plays important roles in various physiological and biochemical processes of plants. However, the <i>NAC</i> gene family in <i>Lagerstroemia indica</i> and its role in anthocyanin metabolism a...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/7/542 |
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| Summary: | NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC1/2) is a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) family that plays important roles in various physiological and biochemical processes of plants. However, the <i>NAC</i> gene family in <i>Lagerstroemia indica</i> and its role in anthocyanin metabolism are still unexplored. In our study, a total of 167 <i>NACs</i> were identified in the <i>L. indica</i> genome via genome-wide analysis and bioinformatics techniques. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that all 167 NAC proteins contained a conserved NAM domain. This domain primarily comprised random coils, extended strands, and alpha helices. Most <i>NACs</i> were found on the nucleus and dispersed over 23 of the 24 plant chromosomes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the <i>NACs</i> can be categorized into ten subgroups. Furthermore, the promoter homeotropic elements predicted the cis-acting elements in the promoters of these genes related to hormones, development, environmental stress response, and other related responses, demonstrating the diverse regulatory mechanisms underlying gene functions. In addition, a co-expression network was established through RNA sequencing. This network helped identify seven key <i>LiNACs</i>, genes related to anthocyanin expression (CHS) and transcription factors (MYB and bHLH). To identify potential anthocyanin regulatory factors present in <i>L. indica</i> petals, protein interaction prediction was performed, which revealed that LiNACs might participate in anthocyanin regulation by interacting with other proteins, such as MYB, ABF, ABI, bZIP, MYC, etc. Our results provided novel insights and could help in the functional identification of <i>LiNACs</i> in <i>L. indica</i> and the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis. |
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| ISSN: | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |