title: Integration analysis of MKK and MAPK family members highlights potential MAPK signaling modules in cotton.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play a crucial role in plant growth and development, as well as their biotic and abiotic stress responses. As a nodal point of the MAPK cascade, the MKK gene family has not been systematically studied in cotton. Here, we identified 11 putative MKK genes in the Gossypium raimondii genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the MKKs were supported by architectures of conserved protein motifs. Expression patterns of MKKs under hormone treatments or abiotic stresses revealed their diverse functions in stress responses. Based on a yeast two hybrid, a total of 63 interactive pairs of MKKs and MAPKs were identified in cotton. Among these, 40 interactive pairs were newly identified compared to that reported previously in Arabidopsis. Integration analysis of the interaction network and expression patterns of MKK and MAPK family members revealed 13 potential MAPK signaling modules that are involved in the complicated cross-talk between hormones and abiotic stresses. Taken together, our data enhance the understanding of the evolution and function of MAPK cascades in cotton, and lay the foundation for the improvement of various defense responses that use MAPK signaling modules in the future.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yujia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Caiping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics &Germplasm Enhancement, Hybrid Cotton R&D Engineering Research Center, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Wangzhen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D003368:Gossypium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics*; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases