title: The phytocyanin gene family in rice (Oryza sativa L.): genome-wide identification, classification and transcriptional analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phytocyanins (PCs) are plant-specific blue copper proteins involved in electron transport, and a large number of known PCs are considered to be chimeric arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). To date there has not been a genome-wide overview of the OsPC gene family. Therefore, as the first step and a useful strategy to elucidate the functions of OsPCs, there is an urgent need for a thorough genome-wide analysis of this gene family.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, a total of 62 OsPC genes were identified through a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome. Based on phylogeny and motif constitution, the family of OsPCs was classified into three subclasses: uclacyanin-like proteins (OsUCLs), stellacyanin-like proteins (OsSCLs) and early nodulin-like proteins (OsENODLs). Structure and glycosylation prediction indicated that 46 OsPCs were glycosylphosphatigylinositol-anchored proteins and 38 OsPCs were chimeric AGPs. Gene duplication analysis revealed that chromosomal segment and tandem duplications contributed almost equally to the expansion of this gene family, and duplication events were mostly happened in the OsUCL subfamily. The expression profiles of OsPC genes were analyzed at different stages of vegetative and reproductive development and under abiotic stresses. It revealed that a large number of OsPC genes were abundantly expressed in the various stages of development. Moreover, 17 genes were regulated under the treatments of abiotic stresses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The genome-wide identification and expression analysis of OsPC genes should facilitate research in this gene family and give new insights toward elucidating their functions in higher plants.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors: Haoli
authors: H
authors: Ma
authors: Heming
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D020440:Gene Duplication / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins