In silico characterization of the mTERF gene family in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) and investigation of its relationship with salt stress

This study was carried out to perform in silico characterization of the gene family of mitochondrial transcription termination factors (mTERFs) in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) and to investigate its relationship with salt stress. mTERF regulates the expression of mitochondrial genes and is closely related to the function of mitochondria and chloroplast. In this study, 43 mTERF genes were identified in peanut using the Plant Ensembl database. Using the iTOL database, peanuts were divided into eight main groups based on mTERF phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of its promoters using the Pv-mTERF PlantCARE database revealed the presence of many cis elements involved in the regulation of cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Subcellular localizations were determined using WoLFPSORT database, gene duplication events using MCScanX database, functional ontologies of protein sequences using STRING database and physical and functional interactions of protein-protein interactions were determined using STRING database. Gene ontology (GO) has primarily associated Pv-mTERFs with the function and composition of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Tandem and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of the mTERF gene family in the peanut genome. In tissue culture studies, salt stress was applied at concentrations of 0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM and 150 mM and gene expression analyzes were performed. It was determined that the expression of mTERF genes in peanut calli exposed to salt stress caused differential up- or down-regulation. These results will be useful to elucidate the roles of mTERF genes in growth, development and stress response in peanut. Keywords: Tissue culture, pistachio, gene expression, mTERF, salt stress