Comprehensive analysis of the COBRA-like (COBL) gene family through whole-genome analysis of land plants

COBRA-like genes play important roles in oriented cell division, cell expansion, cell wall biosynthesis, defense response, and tip-directed growth in root hair development in plants. However, despite the increasing availability of plant genomic data, there is limited understanding of the systemic evolutionary analysis and gene characterization of this family. This study aims to investigate the number and structure of the COBRA gene family in land plants, representing major evolutionary nodes, through genome data mining. The representative plants analyzed in this study include Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabidopsis lyrate, Carica papaya, Populus trichocarpa, Medicago truncatula, Glycine max, Ricinus communis, Manihot esculenta, Cucumis sativus, Vitis vinifera, Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays, Oryza sativa, Brachypodium distachyon, Mimulus guttatus, Selaginella moellendorffii, and Phycomitrella patens. A total of 180 COBRA proteins were analyzed from these representative plants. By comparing protein and gene structures, combined with phylogenetic analysis, syntenic research, and expression pattern analysis, this study provides novel insights into the origin and divergence of COBRA genes. Furthermore, this study reveals the evolutionary relationships of COBRA genes among land plant species and offers essential theoretical foundations and gene resources for improving crop quality through genetic modification mechanisms.