Identification of SBP Gene Family and Analysis of Expression Patterns Under Salt Stress in Quinoa

This study aimed to identify the Squamosa promoter Binding Protein (SBP) transcription factor from the whole genome of quinoa by analyzing its phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, chromosome location, gene replication, upstream cis-regulatory elements, tissue expression, and construction of the SBP protein interaction network, as well as the characteristics of its tissue expression pattern under salt stress. The researchers found that 23 genes of the CqSBP family were identified through bioinformatics analysis and showed diversity in their amino acid physical and chemical properties. These proteins were hydrophilic and all 23 CqSBPs were located in the nucleus. The SBP family genes were unevenly distributed across the 12 chromosomes of quinoa, mostly on the B chromosome group. The upstream cis-acting element analysis revealed the presence of 49 elements with plant hormones, stress, light response, and tissue-specific expression, and all CqSBPs contained one or more Tata box elements. Protein interaction network analysis showed that all CqSBP proteins appeared in the known interaction network of Arabidopsis. Different SBP genes were differently expressed in different organs and periods of quinoa, and SBP genes were expressed with certain tissue specificity. The expression of CqSBP showed many changes under salt stress.