Computational Analysis of Blast-Responsive Pi9 Gene Family in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana)

The Pi9 gene, an element belonging to Nucleotide-Binding Site Leucine-Rich Repeat (NBS-LRR) family, a positive regulator and critical in plant defence mechanism against blast fungus in millets & rice. Despite the fact that NBS-LRR genes are found across various plant species, including millets, no studies have specifically investigated Pi9 gene in Eleusine coracana genome that can be used effectively to combat blast disease causing up to 80% yield loss. Upon infection, the pathogen secretes the Avr protein into the host cell, where it interacts with Pi9 to disrupt the stability of WRKY transcription factors, via ANIP1 disassociation thereby weakening the host immunity. Previous findings regarding the Pi9 gene in rice may not be directly applicable to finger millet as they are different genomes and the distinct evolutionary origins of Magnaporthe grisea strains affecting them. Subsequently, research on Pi9 gene in finger millet in the view of breeding, marker development, allele mining are present but our study provides foundation for deeper understanding of the gene family members which is essential to develop tolerant varieties. Here, we identified nine EcPi9 gene homologs and divided into three clades based on their ancestral cleavage. Various Insilco tools were used to determine gene and protein assets including subcellular localisation, cis regulating elements, conserved motif and domain analysis, etc. EcPi9 homologs are closely related to rice and sorghum with reference to evolutionary and synteny analysis. CpG island prediction revealed that methylated sites present align according to their phylogeny. Functional validation of transcripts was done through GO studies and TFs prediction. Current study characterized EcPi9 gene members, their roles in defence against blast and provides valuable resources for future research.