Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of JmjC domain-containing family in Vitis vinifera L.

In eukaryotes, histone methylation is essential for controlling chromatin structure, gene transcription, and related chromatin processes. Jumonji C (JmjC) domain-containing demethylases (JMJs) regulate histone methylation levels. The JMJ gene family has been discovered in various plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Malus domestica, and Zea mays. In this study, a total of 23 Vitis vinifera VvJMJ gene family members related to histone methylation were identified utilizing genomic and transcript databases. We analyzed the chromosomal location distribution, protein properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, motifs, evolutionary patterns, promoter sequences, and expression profiles of the VvJMJ gene family. The VvJMJ genes were classified into five subfamilies: KDM3, KDM4, KDM5, JMJD6, and JMJC. Co-linearity analysis showed that VvJMJs are highly conserved with AtJMJs and OsJMJs genes. Analysis of the promoter sequences revealed that VvJMJ gene promoter regions are enriched with elements associated with stress response, growth and development, hormone response, and light reactions. Transcriptional profiling and qRT-PCR analysis showed that VvJMJs may play various roles in the multiple biological processes of V. vinifera. For example, VvJMJ2, VvJMJ16, VvJMJ18 may participate in the ripening process of V. vinifera fruits; VvJMJ1, VvJMJ4, VvJMJ6, VvJMJ13, VvJMJ17, VvJMJ20, VvJMJ21, VvJMJ23 may participate in various hormone responses; VvJMJ1, VvJMJ4, VvJMJ10, VvJMJ11 may participate in the stress response of V. vinifera. This study initially identified the characteristics of V. vinifera JmjC domain-containing genes. The results established a basis for functional analyses of VvJMJ genes in V. vinifera, facilitating the exploration of the mechanisms of underlying the growth, development, and fruit maturation.