Identification, Structural Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Na +/H + Antiporter (NHX) Genes Across the Fava Bean’s (Vicia Faba L.) Genome

Shoaib Ur Rehman; Arif Ullah; Zamarud Shah; Zeeshan Khan; Iqra Shah; Habiba Ali

Identification, Structural Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Na +/H + Antiporter (NHX) Genes Across the Fava Bean’s (Vicia Faba L.) Genome

Authors

Shoaib Ur Rehman Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Pakistan
Arif Ullah PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Pakistan
Zamarud Shah Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
Zeeshan Khan PhD Scholar, Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
Iqra Shah PhD Student, Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
Habiba Ali BS Student, Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan

Keywords:

Fava bean, NHX, salt stress, genome-wide , analysis

Abstract

Plant Na ⁺/H ⁺ antiporter (NHX) genes enhance salt tolerance by sequestering Na+ into vacuoles or effluxing it across the plasma membrane. This study aimed to identify and characterize NHX genes in fava bean. Seven VfNHX genes were explored and named as VfNHX1-VfNHX7 on the basis of their order in the phylogenetic tree. The protein length, isoelectric points and GRAVY of all 7 proteins ranged from 529-1155, 5.2-8.9 and 0.142-0.637, respectively. The vacuole was predicted as a major residence for all 7 NHX proteins. Amiloride was conserved in the third motif of all members except VfNHX7. Exons′ number in VfNHX genes ranged from 14-23. Segmental duplication contributed 28.5% to the VfNHX gene family expansion. Ka/Ks ratio of paralogs revealed that they were all under purifying selection. Salt-associated cis-acting elements, including GT1-motif, TGACG-motif, ABRE, G-box, MBS, and TGA, were detected in VfNHX promoters. This study provides a base for functional validation of VfNHX genes and their contribution towards salt tolerance.

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Identification, Structural Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Na +/H + Antiporter (NHX) Genes Across the Fava Bean’s (Vicia Faba L.) Genome