# Characterization of histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase genes under abiotic and hormone stresses in soybean

## TL;DR

This study explores how histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase genes in soybean respond to stress and hormones, offering insights for improving stress resistance in crops.

## Contribution

The study identifies and characterizes soybean HAT and HDAC genes under abiotic stress and hormone treatments, revealing their roles in epigenetic regulation.

## Key findings

- GmHATs and GmHDACs show tissue-specific expression and are induced by salt and drought stress.
- GmHDT2 expression increased 61-fold under salt stress, and acetylation levels decreased significantly.
- HD2 subfamily genes are negatively correlated with reduced histone acetylation under stress.

## Abstract

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) dynamically regulate histone acetylation and are involved in the process of plant growth and development and stress responses.

In this study, we identified 12 GmHATs and 28 GmHDACs in the soybean genome and systematically analyzed their phylogenetic relationships, structural features, expression profiles, and stress-induced acetylation dynamics using bioinformatics analysis, RT-qPCR, and western blotting.

Cis-element analysis indicates that they may participate in hormone and stress signaling pathways, and transcriptome analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns. RT-qPCR results indicated that GmHATs and GmHDACs exhibited varying degrees of induced expression under salt and drought stress, particularly the GmHDA16 and GmHDT2. Notably, under salt stress, GmHDT2 expression increased 61-fold. Western blotting further demonstrated that salt and drought treatments significantly reduced H3K18ac and H4K8ac levels. Additionally, these genes exhibit distinct responses to various plant hormones.

The reduction in acetylation was negatively correlated with the upregulation of HD2 subfamily genes, suggesting that specific HDACs mediate stress responses through histone deacetylation. This study provides new insights into the epigenetic regulation of abiotic stress in soybean, offering valuable genetic resources for future stress-resistant breeding programs.