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Abstract Detail


Developmental and Structural Section

Pabon Mora, Natalia [1], Litt, Amy [2].

Functional evolution of the AP1/FUL gene lineage in non-core eudicot plants.

Duplication events in several gene lineages involved in floral development seem to coincide with the diversification of the core eudicots. In the AP1/FUL gene lineage, the euFUL and euAP1 clades result from this duplication event. A second duplication occurred in Brassicaceae, providing a unique complement of genes in this family. The fact that ap1 mutants outside of Brassicaceae do not present homeotic transformation of perianth organs suggests that A function (sepal and petal identity) of the ABC model could be restricted to Brassicaceae. Furthermore, members of the euFUL clade share conserved sequence with the FUL-like proteins found outside of the core eudicots, whereas the euAP1 clade protein sequence is divergent. Duplication events complicate the assessment of gene function evolution since data available for euAP1 genes in Brassicaceae cannot be used for hypothesizing the function of the euAP1 or euFUL genes in the rest of the core eudicots. Also, euFUL gene function in core eudicots may differ from FUL-like gene function in basal angiosperms, monocots and basal eudicots. Functional data from FUL-like genes outside of the core eudicots are scarce, but are crucial for hypotheses regarding the ancestral role and evolution of this gene lineage. The only loss-of-function data to date come from one paralog of wheat, which plays a role in vernalization and flowering time. We have cloned FUL-like genes from Papaver somniferum (Ranunculales), Aristolochia fimbriata, Saruma henryi and Asarum europaeum (Piperales). Expression patterns in these genes are broader than euAP1 and euFUL, in some cases including leaves and all floral whorls. Preliminary data suggest that downregulation of one copy of the FUL-like genes in Papaver does not affect floral morphology. We hypothesize that FUL is important in flowering transition, determining floral meristem identity and/or affecting flowering time. Redundancy is being investigated by downregulation of the two paralogs.


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1 - Graduate Center CUNY/ New York Botanical Garden, Plant Sciences, 200th St and Southern Blvd, Plant Research Laboratory, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA
2 - The New York Botanical Garden, 200th St and Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA

Keywords:
Floral development
FUL like genes
gene duplication
basal eudicots
Basal angiosperms.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 33
Location: 215/SUB
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: 33006
Abstract ID:566


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