The myosin family genes in soybean: Genome-wide identification and expression analysis

Myosin proteins are molecular motors that play key roles in numerous cellular processes. However, little is known about this family in legume, especially in the important crop plant soybean (Glycine max). Here we performed systematic analyses of the myosin gene family in soybean. In the soybean genome, 26 myosin genes were identified, and were grouped into two major classes: class VIII and class XI. The two myosin classes differ in composition of conserved domains and gene structure. All the myosin genes were found involved in gene duplication events and a total of 27 duplication pairs were detected. Promoter analysis and GO enrichment imply the multiple potential functions of soybean myosins. Based on RNA-seq data, their expression profiles in different tissues/organs and in response to abiotic stresses were investigated. The results suggested that they participate in various biological processes during plant growth and development. Overall, our study promotes further understanding of plant myosins, as well as provides valuable clues for functional studies on this gene family.