title: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of WNK kinase gene family in rice.
abstract: Eukaryotic protein kinases represent one of the largest gene families involved in diverse regulatory functions. WNK (With No Lysine) kinases are members of ser/thr protein kinase family, which lack conserved catalytic lysine (K) residue at protein kinase subdomain II and is replaced by either asparagine, serine or glycine residues. They are involved in regulation of flowering time, circadian rhythms and abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the present study, we have identified 9 members of WNK in rice, showed resemblance to Arabidopsis and human WNK and clustered into five main clades phylogenetically. The predicted genes structure, bonafide conserved signature motif and domains strongly support their identity, as members of WNK kinase family. We have analyzed their chromosomal distribution, physio-chemical properties, subcellular localizations and cis-elements in the promoter regions in silico. Further, transcript analysis of OsWNK by qRT-PCR revealed their differential regulation in tissue specific and abiotic stresses libraries. In conclusion, the identification of nine OsWNK and transcript level expression pattern under abiotic stress using qRT-PCR in rice will significantly contribute towards the understanding of WNK genes in monocots and thus provide a set up for functional genomics studies of WNK protein kinases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India.
authors.forename: Ankush Ashok
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Saddhe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa 403726, India. Electronic address: kundan@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in.
authors.forename: Kundan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: Abiotic stress; Gene expression; Rice; WNK; With no lysine kinase