Genome-wide identification and bioinformatic analysis of mitochondrial iron transporter genes in poplar (Populus trichocarpa)

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for almost all organisms, and iron requirements are particularly high in photosynthetic organisms. In plants, iron is used intensively in the chloroplast and mitochondrial organelles. The discovery of the MIT (Mitochondrial Iron Transporter) genes, which are involved in the uptake of iron into the mitochondria, has led to a better understanding of the mitochondrial iron balance and its importance. The aim of this study was to determine the genome-wide MIT genes in poplar (Populus trichocarpa) and to reveal their structures by bioinformatic analyses. In this context, three MIT genes (Potri.001G282400.1, Potri.009G077600.1 and Potri.016G125200.1) were found in the genome of poplar plant. The amino acid composition of the MIT protein sequences of poplar plants was analyzed and the most abundant amino acid type was alanine (Ala) with an average of 12.2%. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a clear separation between monocot and dicot plants. In particular, it was found that poplar MIT protein sequences grouped with willow plants. It was also found that the expression levels of poplar MIT genes under drought stress varied according to gene type.