Analysis of bioinformatics and expression level of bHLH transcription factors in Scutellaria baicalensis / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective The information of bHLH transcription factor genes from transcriptome dataset of Scutellaria baicalensis was predicted by bioinformatics methods and the gene expression analysis was used to deduce its probable function. Methods The bHLH genes were screened from the transcriptome dataset of S. baicalensis by using BLAST comparison software. Then the open reading frames (ORFs) from the full-length of cDNA of bHLH genes were predicted by ORF Finder online tool, and its protein characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatic method. The expression of bHLH genes was detected by qPCR in different organs and treatments stimulated by Gibberellin A3 (GA3). Results Six genes of bHLH transcription factors were obtained, which belonged to six subfamilies of bHLHs of A. thaliana, two of which had completed ORFs. The results of gene expression showed that The expression of bHLH2 and bHLH3 increased after 100 μmol/L GA3 treatment, and the expression of bHLH1, bHLH5, bHLH6 and bHLH7 decreased. The bHLH gene had the highest expression level in roots and flowers of S. baicalensis of them, among which bHLH1, bHLH2, bHLH5 and bHLH7 had highest expression in flowers and bHLH3 had highest expression in root. There was a correlation between bHLH gene and expression of biosynthesis and regulation genes of flavonoid. Conclusion These results provided the basis for further improving the molecular regulation network of flavonoids of bHLH genes in S. baicalensis.