Genome-wide identification and gene expression analysis of the 14–3-3 gene family in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Background 14–3-3 proteins are essential in regulating various biological processes and abiotic stress responses in plants. Although 14–3-3 proteins have been studied in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa , there is a lack of research on the 14–3-3 gene family in potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L.). Results A total of 18 14–3-3 genes encoding proteins containing a typical conserved PF00244 domain were identified by genome-wide analysis in potatoes. The St14–3-3 gene family members were unevenly distributed across the chromosomes, and gene structure analysis showed that gene length and intron number varied greatly among the members. Phylogenetic analysis of 14–3-3 proteins in potatoes and other plant species showed that they could be divided into two distinct groups (ε and non-ε). Members in the ε group tended to have similar exon-intron structures and conserved motif patterns. Promoter sequence analysis showed that the St14–3-3 gene promoters contained multiple hormone-, stress-, and light-responsive cis-regulatory elements. Synteny analysis suggested that segmental duplication events contributed to the expansion of the St14–3-3 gene family in potatoes. The observed syntenic relationships between some 14–3-3 genes from potato, Arabidopsis , and tomato suggest that they evolved from a common ancestor. RNA-seq data showed that St14–3-3 genes were expressed in all tissues of potatoes but that their expression patterns were different. qRT-PCR assays revealed that the expression levels of nearly all tested St14–3-3 genes were affected by drought, salt, and low-temperature stresses and that different St14–3-3 genes had different responses to these stresses. Conclusions In summary, genome-wide identification, evolutionary, and expression analyses of the 14–3-3 gene family in potato were conducted. These results provide important information for further studies on the function and regulation of St14–3-3 gene family members in potatoes.