GENOME-WIDE EVOLUTIONARY CHARACTERIZATION AND MOLECULAR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE AT-HOOK MOTIF CONTAINING NUCLEAR LOCALIZED (AHL) GENE FAMILY IN A EUDICOT VERSUS MONOCOT SYSTEM

Jessica Eriamiatoe

doi:10.7273/000007906

The AT-HOOK MOTIF CONTAINING NUCLEAR LOCALIZED (AHL) gene family encodes proteins characterized by the AT-hook motif, which facilitates binding to AT-rich DNA sequences, and the PLANT AND PROKARYOTIC CONSERVED (PPC) domain, involved in protein-protein interactions and nuclear localization. AHL genes play diverse roles in plant development and responses to environmental stimuli by influencing chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. This study explores the AHL gene family in Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium), a monocot model. This research identified 22 BdAHL genes, analyzing their structure, phylogenetic relationships, and expression profiles, and compared them to AHL genes in other plant species, particularly Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis). Examination of the evolutionary history of these genes, revealing a high degree of conservation across plant lineages, which underscores their importance in fundamental plant processes. Key findings include the evolutionary conservation of AHL genes, the presence of conserved motifs (specifically, the AT-hook motif and the PPC domain) and differences in gene structure among AHL gene types, suggesting functional diversification within the gene family. The analysis also examined how their expression varies across different tissues and developmental stages in Brachypodium compared to Arabidopsis. This research also focuses on investigating the functional conservation and divergence of AHL genes between Arabidopsis and Brachypodium. This comparative research approach strived to understand how AHL gene function has evolved in the two major angiosperm lineages: a monocot versus eudicot. Overexpression analyses of specific Arabidopsis AHL genes in Brachypodium reveal that clade A AHL genes (AHL27 and AHL29) delay flowering, similar to their function in Arabidopsis, indicating a conserved role in flowering time regulation. In contrast, the clade B gene AHL6 promotes early flowering when overexpressed in Brachypodium, highlighting a potential divergence in function. This suggests both conserved and divergent roles for AHL genes in regulating flowering time, and possibly other developmental processes, between dicots and monocots. The implications of these findings for understanding the evolution of plant development and for potential crop improvement strategies are discussed. Studies on the AHL gene family are proposed to be a valuable tool for enhancing global crop improvement. Research in this area has the potential to significantly impact agricultural applications, including enhancing productivity, fruit quality, fiber production, grain yield, and nutritional content, as well as improving crops' resilience to climate-driven environmental stresses. The ability to translate scientific discoveries related to AHL genes into practical applications holds special significance for addressing challenges in global food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

GENOME-WIDE EVOLUTIONARY CHARACTERIZATION AND MOLECULAR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE AT-HOOK MOTIF CONTAINING NUCLEAR LOCALIZED (AHL) GENE FAMILY IN A EUDICOT VERSUS MONOCOT SYSTEM

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