Genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression analysis of GDSL-type esterases/lipases gene family in relation to grape berry ripening

GDSL-type esterases/lipases (GELP) were a large subfamily of lipolytic enzymes which play important roles in plant growth, environment stress, and functional differentiation. Few was known about its function in fruit ripening. In this study, 83 VvGELPs were identified and divided into three clades and 11 subclades based on the phylogenic analysis. There are conserved gene structures and motif compositions for the members of the same subclade. 83 VvGELPs were unevenly distributed on 17 chromosomes, and most of the genes had five exons. Six sets of tandem duplication were detected, in which, only two sets of segmental duplication. Further analysis of the promoter regions of VvGELPs revealed the distinct presence of plant hormone-responsive, development-responsive, light-responsive and environment stress-responsive cis-acting elements. The expression analyses based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR in 'Kyoho' from the control and treatment with H2O2 showed that VvGELPs had different expression patterns during the grape berry development. VvGELP76 and VvGELP82 were highly expressed in all the development stage. Seven VvGELPs (VvGELP3, 30, 36, 43, 62, 70, 82) were up-regulated in 35 DPA, while down-regulated in 55 DPA. VvGELP29 was significantly down-regulated in 35 DPA and 55 DPA. The results indicated that VvGELPs were involved in grape berry ripening.