The Vital Role of the CAMTA Gene Family in Phoebe bournei in Response to Drought, Heat, and Light Stress

The calmodulin-binding transcriptional activator (CAMTA) is a small, conserved gene family in plants that plays a crucial role in regulating growth, development, and responses to various abiotic stress. Given the significance of the <i>CAMTA</i> gene family, various studies have been dedicated to uncovering its functional characteristics. In this study, genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to explore <i>CAMTA</i>s in <i>Phoebe bournei</i>. A total of 17 <i>CAMTA</i> genes, each containing at least one domain from CG-1, TIG, ANK, or IQ, were identified in the <i>P. bournei</i> genome. The diversity of <i>PbCAMTAs</i> could be varied depending on their subcellular localization. An analysis of protein motifs, domains, and gene structure revealed that members within the same subgroup exhibited similar organization, supporting the results of the phylogenetic analysis. Gene duplications occurred among members of the <i>PbCAMTA</i> gene family. According to the <i>cis</i>-regulatory element prediction and protein-protein interaction network analysis, eight genes were subjected to qRT-PCR under drought, heat, and light stresses. The expression profiles indicated that <i>PbCAMTA</i>s, particularly <i>PbCAMTA2</i>, <i>PbCAMTA12</i>, and <i>PbCAMTA16</i>, were induced by abiotic stress. This study provides profound insights into the functions of <i>CAMTA</i>s in <i>P. bournei</i>.