Functional and structural insights into candidate genes associated with nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

An extensive bioinformatics based study has been performed to gain insight into the structural and functional aspects of candidate genes involved in Nitrogen and Phosphorus nutrition in wheat. Based on our study, 37 N and P nutrition candidate genes were identified (24 NUE and 13 inorganic phosphate transporters) in wheat genome. 23 gene specific novel microsatellites were discovered using genomic sequences of identified N and P nutrition genes. We also identified the microRNAs that target ten candidate genes including TaAS1-3A, TaAS1-3D, TaASN2-1A, TaASN2-1B, TaANR1-6A, TaANR1-6B, TaNRT2.4-6A, TaNRT2.6-6A, TaNRT2.6-6B and TaPHT1.5-5B. Expression profiling of identified genes showed altered expression under N and P starvation. The proposed 3D structure of wheat N and P nutrition proteins shared high level homology with known experimental structures providing information to understand their functions at the biochemical level. Molecular dynamics simulations of refined modeled structures of wheat N and P nutrition proteins show conformational stability. The identified N and P nutrition candidate genes and their targeting miRNAs may provide resources for the genetic improvement and promote N and P use efficiency. Our study provides first-hand structural prospective of N and P nutrition candidate genes towards development of wheat varieties resilient to N and P stress.