Data-mining: identification of genes involved in nitrogen transport in Coffea eugenioides

Nitrogen (N) is considered an essential element that is involved in several stages, including plant growth, development, and productivity, as well as the formation of crucial molecules such as proteins, chlorophyll, ATP, and NAD(P)H, among other metabolites. N is the main nutrient coffee plants require during the phenological stage. This study aimed to identify and characterise in silico the genes involved in N transport through the genome database of Coffea eugenioides using bioinformatic tools. In total, eight candidate genes CeNRT (nitrate transporter), nine genes, CeAMT (ammonium transporter), and one gene, CeDUR3 (urea transporter), were identified. The genes were distributed among the 22 chromosomes of the species C. eugenioides. The phylogenetic analysis classified the CeNRT and CeAMT members into groups named NRT1, NRT2, AMT1, and AMT2, respectively. As expected, CeDUR3 was in the clade of organisms characterised as dicotyledons. The data presented in this study may contribute to future molecular studies aiming at a greater understanding of the role played by N transporter genes.