Genome-Wide Characterization of the YTH Proteins in Salix suchowensis

YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing RNA-binding proteins, the earliest identified and most well-known m⁶A reader proteins, play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of plant growth and development as well as stress response by specifically recognizing m⁶A-modified RNA and subsequently recruiting downstream effector proteins to mediate the biological effects of m⁶A modification in eukaryotes. In recent years, the identification and functional characterization of YTH family proteins in woody plants have significantly advanced. However, a systematic identification of the YTH proteins has not yet been reported in Salix suchowensis (S. suchowensis), an early-flowering shrub serving as a valuable model for basic genetic research in woody plants. In this study, we identified 11 YTH genes, named SsYTH1-SsYTH11, located on 9 of 19 chromosomes in S. suchowensis. All proteins with a highly conserved YTH domain were classified into 4 distinct subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. The MEME analysis showed that two conserved motifs, motif 1 and motif 2, were distributed in most SsYTH proteins. Promoter cis-acting element analysis of these proteins suggested a potential close association with abiotic stress and hormones. Subsequently, expression analysis following abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) treatments demonstrated significant differential expression of several SsYTH genes, thereby establishing a basis for further exploration of the YTH function in S. suchowensis and contributing to the broader understanding of epigenetic regulation in woody plants.