Isolation and Characterization of New MIKC*-Type MADS-Box Genes from the Moss Physcomitrella patens

M. Riese; W. Faigl; V. Quodt; W. Verelst; A. Matthes; H. Saedler; T. Münster

doi:10.1055/s-2005-865640

Plant Biology, Table of Contents

Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2005; 7(3): 307-314
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865640

Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Isolation and Characterization of New MIKC-Type MADS-Box Genes from the Moss Physcomitrella patens*

M. Riese[*] ¹ , W. Faigl[*] ¹ , V. Quodt¹ , W. Verelst¹ , A. Matthes¹ , H. Saedler¹ , T. Münster¹

¹Abteilung Molekulare Pflanzengenetik, Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829 Köln, Germany

Abstract

MADS-box genes encode for a large family of transcription-regulating proteins, which were isolated from all groups of eukaryotic organisms. The plant-specific MIKC-type MADS-box genes have been intensively analyzed for their roles in controlling developmental processes. Well-known are the MADS-box genes acting as homeotic selector genes in the differentiation of whorls of floral organs in seed plants. The MADS-box gene family has also been studied in non-flowering plants, such as lycophytes, pteridophytes, and bryophytes. The analysis of MADS-box genes in the moss Physcomitrella patens led to the identification of a new class of MIKC-type genes, designated as MIKC*-type genes. The MIKC*-type genes possess a number of structural features which clearly distinguish them from the already known MIKC-type genes. Recently, orthologues of the Physcomitrella MIKC*-type genes were found in Arabidopsis thaliana, demonstrating the conservation of these genes in tracheophytes. Here, we report the isolation of two new MIKC*-type MADS-box genes from Physcomitrella. Structural features and expression patterns of these genes were analyzed. The contribution of our findings to a better understanding of the evolution of MIKC*-type genes in land plants is discussed.

Key words

Physcomitrella patens - moss - MADS-box gene - MIKC*-type - evolution.

Full Text

References

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1 * These authors contributed equally to this work

T. Münster

Abteilung Molekulare Pflanzengenetik
Max-Planck-Institut für Züchtungsforschung

Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10

50829 Köln

Germany

Email: muenster@mpiz-koeln.mpg.de

Guest Editor: R. Reski