KNOX基因家族编码同源异型盒蛋白, 在植物生长发育过程中起重要调控作用。利用生物信息学手段在全基因组水平上对大豆(Glycine max)KNOX家族基因进行鉴定和分类, 并分析其基因结构、蛋白同源结构域特征以及基因表达方式。研究结果表明: 大豆中的27个GmKNOX基因可以分为GmKNOX I和GmKNOX II两个亚类, 其中GmKNOX I类可分为3个主要的进化支, GmKNOX II类分为2个主要的进化支; 26个GmKNOX基因不均匀地分布在16条染色体上, GmKNOX27尚无法定位。不同组织表达谱的分析表明: GmKNOX I类基因表达部位比较集中, 以茎顶端分生组织中表达量最高; 而GmKNOX II类基因的表达特异性较GmKNOX I类低, 表达部位更广泛。

KNOX family genes, coding homeobox proteins, play an important role in plant development. We investigated soybean KNOX family genes with genome database analysis and bioinformatics. Phylogenetic analysis characterized 2 classes of GmKNOX genes: GmKNOX I with 3 sub-classes and GmKNOX II with 2. In total, 26 GmKNOX genes distribute in 16 chromosomes of soybean, and GmKNOX27 could not be located in any chromosome. Whole-genome expression analysis revealed class I GmKNOX genes mainly expressed in meristematic tissues and class II GmKNOX genes broadly expressed in different tissues.