Abstract: Phosphate transporters (PTs) are crucial for uptake and transport of phosphate in maize (Zea mays L.), this study identified the number of PT genes in maize genome and characterized these PTs, including chromosomal organization, phylogenetic relations, gene and protein structures, motif composition, and possible cis-elements. 40 PTs were identified and found to be distributed across all chromosomes except chromosome 9 in the maize genome. These 40 PTs were grouped into 4 clusters and the majority of members in Clusters Ⅰ or Ⅳ shared similar gene structure and protein structure. Moreover, 14 conserved motifs were identified, and common motif compositions was found to be shared among almost all the members within a same cluster. Furthermore, 20 cis-elements were present in the promoter region of all the 40 PT genes, and were potentially involved in Pi starvation response as well as abiotic stress responses, photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and root development, which suggested that transcriptional regulation of PT genes were complicated. And, it was revealed that 13 PTs in Cluster Ⅰ had different expression patterns, displaying tissue- and development-specificity. Above results offered information for analyzing the functions and regulatory mechanisms of maize PTs, and might provide ideas for improvement of phosphorus use efficiency in maize production.

Key words: phosphate transporter, Zea mays L., phylogenetic relations, motif composition, cis-elements.

摘要： 磷转运体在磷吸收和转运过程中具有重要功能，目前对玉米磷转运体研究相对较少。从全基因组范围内鉴定玉米磷转运体并分析其特性，包括：染色体分布、系统进化发育、基因与蛋白结构、保守序列构成、相关顺式作用元件和表达模式。通过分析，发现40个玉米磷转运体,这40个玉米磷转运体分布于除第9染色体外的其他9条染色体，可以细分成4个类群,ClustersⅠ、Ⅳ基因结构和蛋白结构相对保守。进一步分析发现这40个玉米磷转运体中的14个保守序列和启动子区域20个顺式作用元件。并且分析了ClusterⅠ中13个成员在玉米不同发育时期不同组织中的表达情况，发现各基因表达方式不同，具有组织特异性或发育时期特异性。该结果可为进一步分析玉米磷转运体功能和调控机制、提高玉米磷利用效率提供信息。

关键词: 磷转运体, 玉米, 系统发育, 保守序列, 顺式作用元件