Characterization and expression analysis of GPAT gene family in maize

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferaseďź GPATďź catalyzes the initial step of glycerolipids biosynthesis, and contributes to oil production, membrane stabilization and stress responses in plant. In major field crops, not much information on the GPAT gene family and their potential stress related function was available. In this study, fifteen GPAT gene family members were identified from maize genome, and designated as ZmGPAT1-14 and ZMS1. The ZmGPAT proteins contained 371 to 557 amino acids and had a molecular weight between 42.7 and 61.2 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ZmGPATs fell into four clusters. All 15 ZmGPAT proteins possessed conserved PlsC/LPLAT (Phosphate acyltransferases/ Lysophospholipid acyltransferases) domains, and featured multiple acyltransferase motifs. The expression profiles of ZmGPAT genes were different in various tissues of maize, and elevated expression of a number of ZmGPATs occurred at early seed developmental stages. In response to environmental stresses, differential expression of ZmGPATs had been observed, highlighted by the significant induction of the transcripts accumulation of some ZmGPATs under cold treatment. This study will help to better understand the potential roles of GPAT in oil production, development and abiotic stress responses in field crops.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author