Reconstruction of Gene Networks Involved in Response to Drought Stress in Barley

Aim and Considering the importance of drought stress, and the fact that drought tolerance is a multigenic trait, the objective of the current research was reconstruction of the related gene network and identification of the involved key genes in barley, through microarray data analysis as well as gene ontology enrichment test.
To achieve this goal, all the differentially expressed genes (-2.5 ≤Fold change≤ 2.5) at drought stress conditions among the available barley microarray datasets were identified using Genevestigator web-based tools. Reconstruction of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) network and hub gene analysis were accomplished using Cytoscape software. Gene ontology enrichment analyses were done by AgriGo tools.
Hub gene analysis led to the identification of 14 and 15 unique genes in vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, which were considered as the most effective genes in response to drought stress.
Based on the achieved results, ARF1, ABF3, DREB1A, DREB2A, HY5, and HYH can be introduced as the most effective key genes involved in drought stress tolerance. Moreover, gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed and hub genes demonstrated transcriptional regulation, processes of protein metabolism, photoperiod control, photosynthesis and hormonal signaling by protein kinases and also flowering time control play vital a role in the major and effective processes involved in drought tolerance.