Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the AlkB Homolog Gene Family in Tamarix chinensis

Tamarix chinensis (T. chinensis), an esteemed salt-tolerant plant, holds significant importance in elucidating mechanisms of plant stress adaptation. The ALKBH genes family, which is involved in RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylation, plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress responses. This study performed a genome-wide identification and analysis of the ALKBH genes family in T. chinensis using bioinformatics methodologies. A total of eight ALKBH genes were identified and named TcALKBH1 to TcALKBH8 based on their chromosomal positions. Phylogenetic analysis divided the TcALKBH genes family into different subgroups, revealing that, in comparison to Arabidopsis and other plants, T. chinensis lacks members of the ALKBH6 and ALKBH10 families. Further analysis of gene structure, conserved domain, and motif analysis elucidated the basic features of the TcALKBH gene family. Gene duplication analysis identified TcALKBH3 and TcALKBH7 as homologous gene pairs, and collinearity analysis indicated a closer relationship between T. chinensis and Populus compared to Arabidopsis. In addition, gene expression analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns of the TcALKBH genes, with significant upregulation observed under abiotic stress conditions such as ABA, NaCl, and NaHCO3. It is noteworthy that the expression of TcALKBH4 increased nearly 30-fold after 6 h of ABA stress, suggesting that TcALKBH4 may play a key regulatory role in the ABA response. These results indicate that the TcALKBH genes might be crucial for stress responses in T. chinensis. This research offers a theoretical foundation for a deeper exploration of the roles and molecular mechanisms of the TcALKBH genes family in stress adaptation. It also presents valuable candidate genes for enhancing stress resistance in plants through breeding programs.