Analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica) wall associated receptor-like protein kinase gene’s promoter region and regulatory elements

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an essential crop that used by about 50 % of the world's population as food source, utilized as raw material in manufacturing and as food for animal. Rice is becoming one of Ethiopia's major crops, contributing in securing food, generating income, reducing poverty, and socio-economic development. However, rice disease and pests have been identified as major restrictions in the country, with estimated 37 % lose of rice crops each year due to pests and disease. The cell wall-associated kinase (WAK) family of plant RLKs is unique in that the extracellular portion and cell wall are physically connected together, and has a role in plant disease resistance. Therefore, this study was carried out to identify the promoter regions and regulatory elements (transcription factors (TFs), and transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) and CpG islands) involved in the regulation of gene expression in Rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica) Wall Associated Receptor-like Protein Kinase Genes, thereby providing baseline information for understanding disease resistance strategies. In general, these analyzes would aid in the understanding of regulatory mechanisms of gene expression and develop the knowledge on O. sativa genome by exposing molecular mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation.