Genome-wide identification and characterization of GATA transcription factor gene family in Alternaria alternata

GATA transcription factors (TFs) comprise a protein family whose members contain either one or two highly conserved zinc finger DNA-binding domains, have been shown to play a critical role in regulating various biological processes. Previous studies have shown that the GATA TF AaSreA plays important role in iron homeostasis and oxidative stress resistance of Alternaria alternata. In the present study, we systematically identified an additional five GATA TFs (AaAreA, AaAreB, AaLreA, AaLreB, AaNsdD) and characterized their functions in Alternaria alternata. Our results indicated that AaAreB is only crucial for vegetative growth while AaAreA, AaLreB, and AaNsdD positively regulate vegetative growth, conidiation as well pathogenicity. Interestingly, all AaGATA TFs are important for ROS detoxification. AaAreA is the most important in the pathogenic process and the RNA-seq revealed that AaAreA contributes to many other biological processes including ribosome biogenesis, amino acid metabolism and secondary metabolite biogenesis. Taking together, in addition to AaSreA previously reported, other five GATA proteins are also involved in a complex process governing development, conidiation, ROS detoxification, and pathogenicity in A. alternata.