Characterization and Role of the Dehydrin Proteins Family in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Aeluropus littoralis

Dehydrins (DNHs) belong to group II of LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) protein family which are expressed in late embryogenesis and accumulate in vegetative tissues in response to multiple abiotic stresses such as salt, drought and cold stress These proteins could be classified to five subgroups (YnSKn, Kn, SKn, KnS, and YnKn) based on the sequence and number of K, S, and Y segments. In this study, 5 genes encoding dehydrin protein (DHN) were identified in Aeluropus littoralis, genome as a halophyte grass, belonging to the Poaceae family and physicochemical characteristics, cell localization, conserved motifs and gene structure were determined and evolutionary relationships among different species were considered. AlDHN proteins were classified in the YnSKn subgroup based on highly conserved domains. The expression pattern of AlDHN.5 gene as a homologue of RAB18 (AT5G66400) gene was examined in both leaf and root tissues under salinity, drought, cold stresses and abscisic acid treatment. Analysis of the expression pattern of this gene in both leaf and root tissues showed that this gene is more expressed in leaf tissue compared to root under drought, cold stresses and ABA treatment. Current study lays the foundation for further studies into the regulation of their expression under various environmental conditions.