Evolutionary and Functional Insights into Rice Universal Stress Proteins in Response to Abiotic Stresses.

ABSTRACT: Universal Stress Protein (USP) plays crucial roles in plant stress adaptation, yet their evolutionary dynamics, regulatory mechanisms, and functional diversification in rice (Oryza sativa) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to conduct a genome-wide identification and characterization of the OsUSP gene family to elucidate its role in abiotic stress responses using integrated bioinformatics approaches. Here, we identified 46 OsUSP genes that are unevenly distributed across 11 rice chromosomes and exhibit significant divergence in protein length, molecular weight, and subcellular localization. Phylogenetic analysis classified OsUSPs into three subfamilies, with conserved motif and domain architectures within groups but distinct structural variations across

SUBMITTER: Lang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12561244 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature