Comprehensive Analysis of the GiTCP Gene Family and Its Expression Under UV-B Radiation in Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat

TCP is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays an important role in plant growth and development. In this study, we used bioinformatics to identify the entire genome of the <i>TCP</i> gene family in <i>Glycyrrhiza inflata</i> Bat, and we analyzed the expression characteristics of <i>GiTCP</i> genes under UV-B radiation using qRT-PCR. The results were as follows: (1) 24 members of the <i>TCP</i> gene family were identified in <i>G. inflata</i>, evenly distributed on its 24 chromosomes. (2) The <i>GiTCP</i> genes contained 0-4 introns and 0-5 exons. (3) The <i>GiTCP</i> genes were phylogenetically divided into three subfamilies-PCF, CIN, and CYC/TB1, with 14, 9, and 1 GiTCP proteins, respectively. (4) A covariance analysis showed that two pairs of <i>GiTCP</i> genes underwent a fragmentary duplication event. (5) A cis-element analysis showed that the cis-responsive elements of the <i>GiTCP</i> genes' promoter regions were mainly comprised of light-responsive, stress-responsive, hormone-regulated, growth and development, and metabolic-regulated elements. (6) A protein network interaction analysis revealed a total of 14 functional molecules of TCPs and 8 potential interacting proteins directly related to GiTCP proteins. (7) GO annotation showed that the <i>GiTCP</i> genes were mainly enriched in BP, CC, and MF groups and had corresponding functions. (8) RNA-seq and qRT-PCR further indicated that <i>GiTCP3</i>, <i>6</i>, <i>7</i>, <i>8</i>, <i>12</i>, <i>14</i>, <i>17</i>, <i>23,</i> and <i>24</i> were up- or down-regulated in <i>G. inflata</i> after UV-B radiation, demonstrating that these genes responded to UV-B radiation in <i>G. inflata</i>. (9) Subcellular localization analysis showed that the GiTCP8 protein was localized in the nucleus. The results of this study provide a basis for further exploration of the function of the <i>GiTCP</i> gene family in the growth and development of <i>G. inflata</i>.