Journal Article

Floral homeotic genes were recruited from homologous MADS-box genes preexisting in the common ancestor of ferns and seed plants

Pahnke, J, Martin, W, Di Rosa, A, Theissen, G, Munster, T. (Max-Planck Institute for Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany.), Saedler, H, Kim, J.T

1997

Overview

Flowers sensu lato are short, specialized axes bearing closely aggregated sporophylls. They are typical for seed plants (spermatophytes) and are prominent in flowering plants sensu stricto (angiosperms), where they often comprise an attractive perianth. There is evidence that spermatophytes evolved from gymnosperm-like plants with a fern-like mode of reproduction called progymnosperms. It seems plausible, therefore, that the stamens/carpels and pollen sacs/nucelli of spermatophytes are homologous to fern sporophylls and sporangia, respectively. However, the exact mode and molecular basis of early seed and flower evolution is not yet known. Comparing flower developmental control genes to their homologs from lower plants that do not flower may help to clarify the issue. We have isolated and characterized MADS-box genes expressed in gametophytes and sporophytes of the fern Ceratopteris. The data indicate that at least two different MADS-box genes homologous to floral homeotic genes existed in the last common ancestor of contemporary vascular plants, some descendants of which underwent multiple duplications and diversifications and were recruited into novel developmental networks during the evolution of floral organs

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,National Acad Sciences,National Academy of Sciences,The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
• Subject: ADN / Amino Acid Sequence / amino acid sequences / Angiosperms / ARN MENSAJERO / ARN MESSAGER / Biological Sciences / biosynthesis / Ceratopteris / Ceratopteris richardii / chemistry / classification / Cloning, Molecular / Complementary DNA / COMPOSICION QUIMICA / COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE / Consensus Sequence / Conserved Sequence / DNA / DNA-binding proteins / DNA-Binding Proteins - biosynthesis / DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry / DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics / Evolution / Evolution, Molecular / EXPRESION GENICA / EXPRESSION DES GENES / Ferns / Flowers / Flowers & plants / FOUGERE / gene expression / Genes / Genes, Homeobox / Genes, Plant / genetics / HELECHOS / Homeobox genes / homeotic genes / MADS Domain Proteins / messenger RNA / Molecular Sequence Data / Multigene Family / nucleotide sequences / Phylogeny / Plant Proteins / Plant reproduction / PLANTAS / PLANTE / Plants / Plants - classification / Plants - genetics / PROTEINAS AGLUTINANTES / PROTEINE DE LIAISON / Proteins / SECUENCIA NUCLEOTIDICA / Sequence Homology, Amino Acid / SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDIQUE / transcription factors / Transcription Factors - biosynthesis / Transcription Factors - chemistry / Transcription Factors - genetics