Amino acid transporter (AAT) gene family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.): widespread family expansion, functional differentiation, roles in quality formation and response to abiotic stresses

Abstract Background Amino acid transporters (AATs) plays an essential roles in growth and development of plants, including amino acids long-range transport, seed germination, quality formation, responsiveness to pathogenic bacteria abiotic stress by modulating the transmembrane transfer acids. In this study, we performed a genome-wide screening analyze AAT genes foxtail millet ( Setaria italica L.), especially those associated with formation stresses response. Results A total number 94 were identified divided into 12 subfamilies their sequence characteristics phylogenetic relationship. large (58/94, 62%) expanded via gene duplication, involving 13 tandem segmental duplication events. Tandemly duplicated had significant impact on functional differentiation variation, structural variation expression variation. Further comparison multiple species showed that addition paralogous genes, variations orthologous also contributed differentiation. The transcriptomic two cultivars verified direct contribution such as SiAAP1 , SiAAP8 SiAUX2 grain quality. addition, qRT-PCR analysis suggested several continuously responded diverse stresses, SiATLb1 SiANT1 . Finally, combined previous studies patterns possible functions predicted. Conclusion This study for first time reported evolutionary features, differentiation, response family, thus providing framework further SiAAT contributing applications improving resistance millet, other cereal crops.