Genome-wide identification and characterization of CONSTANS-like gene family in peas (Pisum sativum)

Abstract

CONSTANS-like (CO-like, COL) genes play an important role in the circadian clock rhythms, which ensures regular development through complicated biological clocks. COL genes are also involved in plant responses to stress. COL genes are zinc-finger transcription factor. COL genes are also involved in regulating growth and development, and stress responses. COL genes, primarily active in the leaves, play a key role in the photoperiod pathway that regulates flowering. These genes exhibit varying expression levels across different plant varieties, and their amino acid sequences differ, potentially explaining their diverse functions. In this study, 40 PsCOLs genes with complete conserved domain was identified from the genome of Pisum sativum and analysed by bioinformatics. 40 PsCOLs were distributed on 7 chromosomes, encoding 40 PsCOL proteins with different physical and chemical properties. We analyzed their gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, synteny, and expression levels in different tissues. The bioinformatical analysis identified 40 COL transcription factors in the pea genome. The phylogenetic tree constructed with Arabidopsis thaliana and other pulses indicates that PsCOLs of different clusters have different biological functions. The conserved motif prediction showed that the number and distribution of motifs on each PsCOLs is varied. The results provide a foundation for the study of COL transcription factors of Pisum sativum and provide more reference information of the function of COL genes in flowering