*4.4. Analysis of* Cis*-Regulatory Elements and Motifs*

Sequences of 2000 bp from promoters of the 44 identified *C. songorica LEA* genes were analyzed for potential *cis*-regulatory elements and motifs by querying them through the PlantCARE database (http: //bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/plantcare/html/) [62]. Stress- and ABA-related *cis*-regulatory elements, including MYB binding site (drought responsive) [63], G-box (light inducible) [64], ABRE (Abscisic acid responsive) [65] and CGTCA-motif (Methyl jasmonate responsive) [66] were recorded.
