Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression Analysis of GeBP Family Genes in Soybean

Abstract

The glabrous-enhancer-binding protein (GeBP) family is a family of plant-specific transcription factors, whose members share a central DNA-binding domain. Previous studies have already proven that <i>GeBP</i> genes are involved in the control of cell expansion but not cell proliferation in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. However, there has not yet been a versatile analysis of the <i>GeBP</i> genes' function in soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.). Here, we identified and named 9 <i>GmGeBP</i> genes in the soybean genome. These genes were distributed on 7 of the 20 chromosomes and the intron numbers ranged from zero to one. According to the phylogenetic tree, 52 <i>GeBP</i> genes obtained from four plant species were clustered into major four groups. Through the RNA-seq analysis of the nine <i>GmGeBP</i> genes, 8 of 9 <i>GmGeBP</i> genes were be found to expressed differentially across the 14 tissues. Additionally, among nine <i>GmGeBP</i> genes, only <i>GeBP4</i> were highly expressed in abnormal trichome soybeans, which was predicted to be involved in trichome development. This genome-wide analysis of <i>GmGeBP</i> genes helps to provide an overview of the evolution and functions of two kinds of soybean plants. These results will help to clarify the potential functions and characteristics of <i>GmGeBP</i> genes in the soybean life cycle.