biostudies-literatureLi FChongqing Technological Innovation and Application Development ProjectNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaGraduate Research and Innovation Program of ChongqingFundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Southwest UniversitySpecial Key Project for Technological Innovation and Application Development in Chongqing2763https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12430503biostudies-literatureUnknown14(17)YABBY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators involved in diverse aspects of plant growth, organogenesis, and adaptation to environmental stresses. However, the functional characteristics of YABBY TFs in maize remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically identified 12 <i>YABBY</i> genes in the maize genome and characterized their gene structures, physicochemical properties, chromosome location, and genomic collinearity. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five subfamilies, with members of each subfamily exhibiting highly conserved exon-intron structures and motif compositions, indicative of potential functional conservation within subfamilies. Cis-regulatory element analysis indicated that <i>YABBY</i> genes may be involved in developmental processes, abiotic stress responses, and light-mediated signaling pathways. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing combined with qRT-PCR validation demonstrated that several <i>YABBY</i> genes, including <i>ZmYABBY2</i>, <i>ZmYABBY5</i>, <i>ZmYABBY8</i>, and <i>ZmYABBY9</i>, are responsive to low-phosphorus and high-nitrogen conditions, implying their potential roles in nutrient stress adaptation. It is worth mentioning that this study redefined the composition of the maize YABBY gene family by excluding a previously annotated member and, for the first time, established a link between YABBY transcription factors and nutrient stress responses. Meanwhile, this is also the first time that protein structure analysis, cis-regulatory element analysis, interspecific collinearity analysis and subcellular localization have been performed on maize ZmYABBY gene family. In summary, our study provides valuable gene resources for maize molecular breeding and offers new insights into the functions of YABBY TFs.Plants (Basel, Switzerland)Genome-Wide Identification of the YABBY Gene Family in Maize and Its Expression Analysis Under Low Phosphorus and High Nitrogen Stress.PMC12430503CSTB2022TIAD-KPX001132372040SWU-KQ22074SWU-KQ22081CSTB2022TIAD-KPX0006CYS25170Ma CLi SJiao BLi CMei XYi LLi FZhao PHuang XLiu CWang JfalseGenome-Wide Identification of the YABBY Gene Family in Maize and Its Expression Analysis Under Low Phosphorus and High Nitrogen Stress.YABBY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators involved in diverse aspects of plant growth, organogenesis, and adaptation to environmental stresses. However, the functional characteristics of YABBY TFs in maize remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically identified 12 <i>YABBY</i> genes in the maize genome and characterized their gene structures, physicochemical properties, chromosome location, and genomic collinearity. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five subfamilies, with members of each subfamily exhibiting highly conserved exon-intron structures and motif compositions, indicative of potential functional conservation within subfamilies. Cis-regulatory element analysis indicated that <i>YABBY</i> genes may be involved in developmental processes, abiotic stress responses, and light-mediated signaling pathways. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing combined with qRT-PCR validation demonstrated that several <i>YABBY</i> genes, including <i>ZmYABBY2</i>, <i>ZmYABBY5</i>, <i>ZmYABBY8</i>, and <i>ZmYABBY9</i>, are responsive to low-phosphorus and high-nitrogen conditions, implying their potential roles in nutrient stress adaptation. It is worth mentioning that this study redefined the composition of the maize YABBY gene family by excluding a previously annotated member and, for the first time, established a link between YABBY transcription factors and nutrient stress responses. Meanwhile, this is also the first time that protein structure analysis, cis-regulatory element analysis, interspecific collinearity analysis and subcellular localization have been performed on maize ZmYABBY gene family. In summary, our study provides valuable gene resources for maize molecular breeding and offers new insights into the functions of YABBY TFs.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-04-23T03:22:56.887Z2026-04-23T03:11:56.062ZS-EPMC124305034094192710.3390/plants14172763