Genome-wide identification, characterization and functional prediction of the Dof gene family in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The DNA binding with one ‘Zn2+’ finger (Dof) is the plant-specific TF family that includes a highly conserved Dof domain. It plays a vital role in plant growth and development, and environmental stimuli. The Dof gene family is well characterized in many plants, including Arabidopsis , but has not yet been studied in sesame. In the present study, we reported for the first-time genome-wide identification of the Dof gene family in sesame, resulting in 32 SiDof genes which are located across 12 linkage groups (LGs). The SiDof genes comprised one to five exons and zero to four introns which is comparable with Dof genes in other species. Of 32 SiDof genes, about 71.88% genes were intronless. The SiDof genes were classified into six groups and exhibited evolutionary relationships with other species. Group III contained the highest number of SiDof genes (seven) while the lowest number in group V (three). There was a robust protein-protein interaction between NAC071 and two Dof proteins namely DOF5.3 and DOFF5.6. A total of 1668 ‘ cis -regulatory’ elements were detected in the promoter region of 32 SiDof genes. Among these, 733 were linked to the stress responses, 562 to the light responses, and 373 to the phytohormone response. The accessible transcriptome (‘RNA-seq’) data-based expression profiles shown that SiDof gens might be associated with various abiotic stresses, including drought and salinity in sesame. Nonetheless, further investigation on functionality analysis of candidate SiDof genesis required.