Bioinformatic characterization of Expansin gene family in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its relationship with abiotic stress

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plant is rich in protein content. It is therefore a crucial resource for human nutrition. In our country, agriculture is mainly performed in the Central Anatolia Region. Expansins are a family of genes that are involved in numerous hormone pathways as well as plant growth and development. Identification, characterization and bioinformatics analyzes of the Expansin gene family in the P. vulgaris genome were performed for the first time with this study. Expansin gene family is divided into 4 subfamilies. These are α-expansin (EXPA), β-expansin (EXPB), α-like expansin (EXLA) and β-like (EXLB) expansin subfamilies. In this study, 30 Expansin (PvEXP) genes belonging to P. vulgaris were identified and named. 23 of these members were found to belong to EXPA, 4 to EXPB and 1 to EXLA subfamily. The EXLB subfamily was not found in the P. vulgaris genome. PvEXP genes were found to be randomly localized in 10 of 11 P. vulgaris chromosomes. Protein lengths ranged from 245 aa to 275 aa, pH values ranged from 4.81 to 9.68, and were mostly found to show basic properties. The promoter region analysis of PvEXP genes and the 3D structures of the proteins they encode were analyzed. A total of 31 orthologous pairs were identified between Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Arabidopsis thaliana, and a total of 71 between Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Glycine max L. Exon-intron/motif structures, protein domains and targeting miRNAs of the PvEXP members were determined. As a result of this study, it was determined that some PvEXP genes gave statistically significant responses to drought stress at the mRNA level, and it was thought that these genes might play a role in the plant's response to drought stress. As a result, PvEXP genes, which are known to be important in abiotic stress pathways, were investigated for the first time in P. vulgaris, which has a great importance both economically and agriculturally. It is proposed that the results obtained could also guide the cultivar development studies to be carried out in the future.