Whole transcriptome expression profiling and biological network analysis of chickpea during heavy metal stress

Heavy metal stress is a major environmental factor responsible for limiting the production of crops. Whole genome wide expression and functional analysis were performed to investigate the molecular insights of heavy metal/metalloids i.e. Trivalent Arsenic [As(III)], hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] and divalent Cadmium [Cd(II)] mediated stress response in chickpea. Deoxyribonucleic acid microarray-based comparative and functional analysis of transcript revealed the versatility of gene expression in the chickpea genotype. It was found that a total of 490, 238 and 1123 genes were up-regulated as well as 645, 229 and 607 genes were down-regulated during exposure of Arsenic [As(III)], Chromium [Cr(VI)] and Cadmium [Cd(II)], respectively. The key metabolic pathways involved in the stress response during exposure of heavy metals were identified by system biology approach. The pathways which were affected due to over and underexpression of genes during the treatment of heavy metal are glucuronate interconversions, Indole alkaloid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid, cysteine, and methionine metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and riboflavin metabolism.