Genome-Wide Identification of Bilberry WRKY Transcription Factors: Go Wild and Duplicate

Abstract

WRKY transcription factor genes compose an important family of transcriptional regulators that are present in several plant species. According to previous studies, these genes can also perform important roles in bilberry (<i>Vaccinium myrtillus</i> L.) metabolism, making it essential to deepen our understanding of fruit ripening regulation and anthocyanin biosynthesis. In this context, the detailed characterization of these proteins will provide a comprehensive view of the functional features of <i>VmWRKY</i> genes in different plant organs and in response to different intensities of light. In this study, the investigation of the complete genome of the bilberry identified 76 <i>VmWRKY</i> genes that were evaluated and distributed in all twelve chromosomes. The proteins encoded by these genes were classified into four groups (I, II, III, and IV) based on their conserved domains and zinc finger domain types. Fifteen pairs of <i>VmWRKY</i> genes in segmental duplication and four pairs in tandem duplication were detected. A cis element analysis showed that all promoters of the <i>VmWRKY</i> genes contain at least one potential cis stress-response element. Differential expression analysis of RNA-seq data revealed that <i>VmWRKY</i> genes from bilberry show preferential or specific expression in samples. These findings provide an overview of the functional characterization of these proteins in bilberry.