Determination of expression levels of the set domain gene family belonging to phaseolus vulgaris L. under drought and salt stress using omic aproaches

The SET domain gene family is one of the important gene families known as histone methyltransferase genes, which are involved in the epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure. Proteins containing a conserved SET domain catalyze the methylation of lysine residues located in histone tails. According to the literature review, no genome-wide analysis studies have been conducted for the SET domain gene family of Phaseolus vulgaris. This study aimed to evaluate the expression profiles of SET domain genes in bean leaves exposed to salt and drought stress factors and to perform genome-wide analyses of SET domain gene family members using omics approaches. As a result of the study, 49 SET domain genes located on 11 different chromosomes were identified in the Phaseolus vulgaris genome. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using SET domain proteins from P. vulgaris, Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Hordeum vulgare species. It was determined that the SET proteins of P. vulgaris and G. max species showed closer evolutionary relationships. Expression levels of 10 selected Phvul-SET genes were investigated under salt and drought conditions using RT-qPCR studies. Results obtained by overexpressing Phvul-SET-34 and Phvul-SET-36 genes in response to salt and drought stress confirmed that these genes play a role in the response to drought stress. The findings of this study are expected to fill the existing knowledge gap in the literature regarding the role of Phvul-SET-34 and Phvul-SET-36 genes in response to salt and drought stresses, and may require confirmation through functional studies. Keywords: Phaseolus vulgaris, SET domain gene family, abiotic stress, domain, intron