Identification and analysis of a DEVIL paralog gene cluster in Aeluropus littoralis by a comparative genomic approach

Genome-wide identification of orthologs and paralogs gene clusters across different species is considered as a common strategy for predicting gene function. Regarding to importance role of species-specific paralog genes in adaptation to specific environmental stresses, identification of paralog genes in the Aeluropus littoralis, halophyte plant, was considered in this study. For this purpose, the proteome data of four species including A. littoralis, Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon and Sorghum bicolor was compared genome-widely. Based on OrthoMCL analysis, by comparing of 15916 protein sequences of A. littoralis to proteome of other species, 10312 orthologs gene cluster were identified that shared in all given species while 70 unique paralog gene clusters were devoted to A. littoralis. Gene ontology annotation of these paralog clusters showed that they are involved in key biological processes such as cellular processes, metabolic DNA processes, chromatin organization, response to environmental stimuli and cell growth and cycle. The study of the largest cluster of this set led to the identification of a family of small polypeptides (72-39 aa) that is called DEVIL (DVL). Analysis of A. littoralis transcriptome data in a Heatmap display a divergence in gene expression patterns of DVL gene family that could be an evident for their sub‐functionalization in biological processes and molecular functions of the cell. Functional analysis of AlDVL peptide hormones (phytohormones) could be useful for identifying their potential role in the mechanisms involved in drought and salinity tolerance.