Identification and characterization of ARGONAUTE, DICER-LIKE and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE protein families in sweet orange

SABBIONE, A.; VEGGETI, A.; DAURELIO, L.D.; DOTTO, M.

Paraná

Congreso; LIV Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2018

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is one of the most important species for fruit consumption cultivated worldwide. Its nutritional attributes for human health are well known since it is an excellent source of easy access vitamin C, besides the immense economic importance of this species. Nutritional quality, sensory appeal, defense against pathogens and many other physiological processes are regulated by small RNAs. The biogenesis and action of these regulatory molecules have been characterized in several species, being ARGONAUTE (AGO), DICER-LIKE (DCL) and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE (RDR) the three main protein families involved these processes. Several studies have shown variation in the number and tissue specificity in the expression of the members of these families across species. We performed a genomewide analysis using genomic data in order to characterize these important protein families in Citrus sinensis. Using a phylogenetic approach, we identified a total of 10 AGO, 5 DCL and 7 RDR proteins. Analyzing transcriptomic data from 5 different tissues, we obtained the expression profiles of these newly characterized proteins. A detailed analysis of these protein families in Citrus sinensis is presented in this work.