Role of Homeobox Genes in the Development of Pinus Sylvestris

Abstract

Comprehensive gene expression profiling of homeobox gene family members allows to retrieve the role in Pinus sylvestris growth and development. Homeobox genes encode transcriptional factors playing important role in the development of organism. Homeodomains are common in a vast amount of species. Therefore, they can be identified even in non-model organisms. Understanding of homeobox genes functions supports the investigation of tissues development and yields the ways to regulate it. Homeobox genes are understudied for Scots pine. Hence, we assembled de novo transcriptome of Pinus sylvestris obtained from five tissues. The transcriptome comprises 775 502 transcripts. 243 homeobox-containing transcripts were found and DE analysis was carried out using these sequences. We have obtained 5 clusters of homeobox DE genes (visualized as a heatmap of gene expression). DE genes were annotated. The obtained results give some insights into the development of bud and mature tissues of Pinus sylvestris.