Identification and in silico analysis of expression profiles of genes encoding Nuclear factor-YC subunit in cassava (Manihot esculenta) using the bioinformatics approach

Abstract

Nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y), composed of NF-YA, NFYB and NF-YC subunits, is known as the regulatory protein involving in various important processes in plants. In this study, the NF-YC subunit was analysed in cassava (Manihot esculenta) based on the bioinformatic approach. As the results, a total of 14 genes encoding NF-YC, namely MeNF-YC, were identified in the cassava genome. Our structural analysis showed that the majority of MeNF-YC contained only one exon, similar as previously confirmed in other plant species. Based on the available transcriptome atlas, most of MeNF-YC genes were found to express in at least one tissue, organ in cassava plants in the normal condition. Notably, MeNFYC05 was defined as the highly-expressed gene in many tissues, including the shoot and root apical meristems, somatic embryogenic structures, and storage roots. Our results would provide the comprehensive information of the genes encoding NF-YC in cassava, thereby suggesting a list of candidate genes for studying the functional characterisation to improve the unfavorable condition tolerance of cassava.