Genome-wide Identification and Characterization of Hsp70 gene family in Pearl millet (Pennisetumglaucum)

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a class ofmolecular chaperons which are crucial for proteinfolding, assembly, and translocation in manynormal cellular processes. They stabilize proteinsand membranes, and can assist in proteinrefolding under stress conditions in plants. Pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) is highly abioticstress tolerant, but its Hsps have not beencharacterized. In the present study, PgHsp70genes were retrieved and gene informationanalyzed in order to characterize their structure,localization and functions. Genome-widescreening using the tools of bioinformaticsidentified 18 PgHsp70 genes in the pearl milletgenome which have been categorized into foursubfamilies depending on their cellular localizationsuch as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria,chloroplast and cytoplasm. Number of intronsranged from 0-11 in PgHsp70 family genes andthe genes are located across 1 to 7 chromosomes.Phylogenetic analysis of Hsp70s revealed thatthey are closely related to Sorghum Hsp70s.Promoter analysis showed the presence of cisacting elements such as GCN4, HSE, LTR, MBS,ABRE, MYB, and TC Aassociated with abioticstress conditions indicating the involvement ofthese genes in the abiotic stress. Under vapourpressure deficit (VPD) conditions, leaf and roottissues of VPD-sensitive ICMR 1152 line, showedmild expression and in the presence of high VPD,VPD-insensitive ICMR1122 PgHsp70 genesshowed high expression in leaf and root tissuesin comparison with VPD-sensitive line. GenePgcHsp70-1 displayed high transcript level underhigh VPD conditions. These results expand ourhorizon of understanding of the structure andfunction of Hsp70s, especially under abiotic stressconditions which can further be validated andemployed in breeding programs and geneticengineering

K Divya et al., 'Genome-wide Identification and Characterization of Hsp70 gene family in Pearl millet (Pennisetumglaucum)', Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy, vol. 13(2), pp.102-111, Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy, 2019