Genome-wide survey and characterization of ACD6-like genes in leguminous plants

ANK repeat containing proteins are common in plants and play important roles in cell cycle regulation, cytoskeleton interaction, transcription, ion transport, signal transduction, and defense responses. ACCELERATED CELL DEATH 6 (ACD6) is a member of Ankyrin repeat transmembrane (ANK-TM) group, with thirteen subgroups. In this study, we investigated all ACD6-like genes in eight leguminous plants. Fourteen, eleven, ten, seven, eight, eleven, five, and eight ACD6-like genes were identified in Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculate, Vigna radiata, Vigna angularis, Pisum sativum, Cicer arietinum, and Lupinus angustifolius, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that ACD6-like proteins from those eight leguminous plants can be divided into five groups (I–V). In addition, the number of motifs varied from three to eight among those ACD6-like proteins, suggesting functional divergence among those ACD6-like proteins. The expression profiles of ACD6-like genes suggested their functional diversification in leguminous plants. The gene expression profile of Glycine max under pathogen infection showed that some ACD6-like genes are involved during the pathogen response. This study lays a solid foundation for further studies of ACD6-like genes in leguminous plants.