New insights into molecular features of the genome-wide AOX family and their responses to various stresses in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

•Seventeen TaAOX genes were identified from Chinese Spring genome.•Tandem and segmental duplication events were found during the TaAOX genes’ evolution.•Most TaAOX genes might play a vital role in the response to various stresses in wheat.•Regulating some TaAOXs’ expression may improve wheat adaptability to various stresses. Alternative oxidase (AOX) is an important terminal oxidase involved in the alternative oxidation pathway in plants, which is closely related to various biotic and abiotic stress responses. However, a comprehensive research on AOX gene family of wheat is still lacking. In this study, the members of wheat AOX (TaAOX) family were identified, and their molecular characteristics and gene expression patterns were systematically investigated. Seventeen TaAOX genes were identified from Chinese Spring (CS) genome, which were mapped on 7 chromosomes and mainly clustered on the long arm's distal end of the second homologous groups. Phylogenetic analysis showed that TaAOX genes were classified into four subgroups (Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id), and the Ia subgroup possessed the most members. Tandem duplication and segmental duplication events were found during the evolution of TaAOX genes and they were affected by purifying selection demonstrated by Ka/Ks analysis. The exon numbers of this family gene varied greatly from 1 to 9. Except for Ta3BSAOX14, all the proteins encoded by the other 16 TaAOX genes contained the amino acid residues of the key active sites in the AOX domain (cd01053). The expression patterns of TaAOX genes in various tissues and under abiotic and biotic stresses were analyzed using public transcriptome data, furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis was performed for some selected TaAOX genes, and the results suggested that most members of this gene family play an important role in response to different stresses in common wheat. Our results provide basic information and valuable reference for further exploring the gene function of TaAOX family by using gene editing, RNAi, VIGS, and other technologies.