BACKGROUND Sulfotransferases (SOTs) (EC 2.8.2.-) play a crucial role in the sulphate conjugation reaction involved in plant growth, vigor, stress resistance and pathogen infection. SOTs in Arabidopsis have been carried out and divided into 8 groups. However, the systematic analysis and functional information of SOT family genes in cotton have rarely been reported. RESULTS According to the results of BLASTP and HMMER, we isolated 46, 46, 76 and 77 SOT genes in the genome G. arboreum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, respectively. A total of 170 in 245 SOTs were further classified into four groups based on the orthologous relationships comparing with Arabidopsis, and tandem replication primarily contributed to the expansion of SOT gene family in G. hirsutum. Expression profiles of the GhSOT showed that most genes exhibited a high level of expression in the stem, leaf, and the initial stage of fiber development. The localization analysis indicated that GhSOT67 expressed in cytoplasm and located in stem and leaf tissue. Additionally, the expression of GhSOT67 were induced and the length of stem and leaf hairs were shortened after gene silencing mediated by Agrobacterium, compared with the blank and negative control plants. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that SOT genes might be associated with fiber development in cotton and provided valuable information for further studies of SOT genes in Gossypium.

中文翻译：

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棉花（棉）中磺基转移酶（SOTs）基因家族的鉴定和特征分析及其在纤维发育中的作用。

背景技术硫转移酶（SOT）（EC 2.8.2.-）在涉及植物生长，活力，抗逆性和病原体感染的硫酸盐结合反应中起关键作用。已经在拟南芥中进行了SOT，并将其分为8组。然而，很少有报道棉花中SOT家族基因的系统分析和功能信息。结果根据BLASTP和HMMER的结果，我们分别在基因组G. arboreum，G。raimondii，G。barbadense和G. hirsutum中分离出46、46、76和77个SOT基因。根据与拟南芥的直系同源关系，将245个SOT中的170个进一步分为四类，而串联复制主要是促进了G. hirsutum中SOT基因家族的扩展。GhSOT的表达谱表明，大多数基因在茎，叶和纤维发育的初期均表现出高水平的表达。定位分析表明GhSOT67在细胞质中表达，并位于茎和叶组织中。此外，与空白和阴性对照植物相比，农杆菌介导的基因沉默后，诱导了GhSOT67的表达，并缩短了茎和叶的长度。结论我们的研究结果表明SOT基因可能与棉花纤维发育有关，并为进一步研究棉SOT基因提供了有价值的信息。与空白和阴性对照植物相比，农杆菌介导的基因沉默后，诱导了GhSOT67的表达，并缩短了茎和叶的长度。结论我们的研究结果表明SOT基因可能与棉花纤维发育有关，并为进一步研究棉SOT基因提供了有价值的信息。与空白和阴性对照植物相比，农杆菌介导的基因沉默后，诱导了GhSOT67的表达，并缩短了茎和叶的长度。结论我们的研究结果表明SOT基因可能与棉花纤维发育有关，并为进一步研究棉SOT基因提供了有价值的信息。