Abstract Auxin response factors (ARFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that bind explicitly to Auxin Response Elements and mediate downstream expression of auxin responsive genes involved at various stages of plant growth and development. This study identified 52 ARF genes located within the wheat genome. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the identified ARF proteins of wheat were classified into four classes (class I, II, III and IV). Synteny analysis revealed the orthologous relation with other monocots. The maximum numbers of predicted ARF genes were mapped on wheat chromosome 3B Ten conserved motifs of ARF was determined on all the identified sequences. Based on amino acid composition of the middle region of the ARF proteins, nine ARF proteins were transcription activators and the remaining were transcription repressors. The ARF genes of wheat contained 1–17 introns and deduced proteins of the genes having similar pattern of intron-exon distribution clustered within the same clade in the phylogenetic tree. TaARF1, TaARF4, TaARF7, TaARF34, TaARF39 were predicted to be targeted by the stress responsive miRNA Tae-miRNA160. The identified proteins were mostly localized within the nucleus and had sequence specific DNA binding activity. They were annotated in regulation of expression of early auxin responsive genes in auxin signaling pathway. Thirty-one TaARF proteins interacted and exhibited co-expressed regulation with other TaARF and Aux/IAA proteins. Increased expression of TaARF1 and TaARF23 at 120 h post inoculation (hpi) and 72 hpi in resistant and susceptible isolines respectively, specifies their roles in providing better resistance to the plant during leaf-rust infection.

中文翻译：

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小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）中的生长素响应因子基因家族：响应叶锈病的全基因组鉴定、表征和表达分析

摘要 生长素反应因子 (ARFs) 是植物特异性转录因子，与生长素反应元件显式结合，介导植物生长发育各个阶段所涉及的生长素反应基因的下游表达。该研究鉴定了位于小麦基因组中的 52 个 ARF 基因。基于系统发育分析，鉴定出的小麦ARF蛋白分为四类（I类、II类、III类和IV类）。同线性分析揭示了与其他单子叶植物的直系同源关系。预测的 ARF 基因的最大数量被定位在小麦染色体 3B 上，在所有鉴定的序列上确定了 ARF 的 10 个保守基序。根据 ARF 蛋白中间区域的氨基酸组成，9 个 ARF 蛋白是转录激活因子，其余为转录抑制因子。小麦的 ARF 基因包含 1-17 个内含子，并推断出这些基因的蛋白质具有相似的内含子 - 外显子分布模式，它们聚集在系统发育树的同一进化枝中。TaARF1、TaARF4、TaARF7、TaARF34、TaARF39 被预测为应激反应 miRNA Tae-miRNA160 的靶点。鉴定出的蛋白质大多位于细胞核内，具有序列特异性 DNA 结合活性。它们被注释在生长素信号通路中早期生长素响应基因的表达调控中。31 个 TaARF 蛋白与其他 TaARF 和 Aux/IAA 蛋白相互作用并表现出共表达调控。TaARF1 和 TaARF23 在接种后 120 小时 (hpi) 和 72 hpi 分别在抗性和易感亲本中表达增加，