Characterization of the Glutamine Synthetase Gene Family in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Expression Analysis in Response to Various Abiotic Stresses

Glutamine synthetase plays an essential role in regulating plant growth and development. However, few studies have analyzed the roles of TaGS in wheat under abiotic stress conditions. In this study, we identified and analyzed the members of the TaGS gene family in <i>Triticum aestivum</i> L., focusing on their gene characteristics, phylogenetic evolution, cis-elements, transcriptional and post-translational modifications, and expression profiling in response to abiotic stress. Twelve TaGS genes were divided into four subfamilies. The synteny analysis revealed that wheat and the five other species share GS homologs. Several potential transcription factors were identified as regulators of TaGS genes. TaGS contains 19 microRNA binding sites, phosphorylation sites, and ubiquitination sites. TaGS genes exhibited tissue-specific expression across various developmental stages and were differentially expressed in response to abiotic stress. For instance, <i>TaGS1-3-4A/4B/4D</i> were upregulated in the leaves and roots of wheat seedlings under abiotic stress conditions. Furthermore, gene ontology annotation was performed on the TaGS-interacting proteins screened by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry to elucidate the regulatory network associated with TaGS. This study lays a foundation for further functional research of TaGS genes in response to abiotic stress and provides potential information for enhancing stress tolerance in wheat.