MADS goes genomic in conifers: towards determining the ancestral set of MADS-box genes in seed plants.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

MADS-box genes comprise a gene family coding for transcription factors. This gene family expanded greatly during land plant evolution such that the number of MADS-box genes ranges from one or two in green algae to around 100 in angiosperms. Given the crucial functions of MADS-box genes for nearly all aspects of plant development, the expansion of this gene family probably contributed to the increasing complexity of plants. However, the expansion of MADS-box genes during one important step of land plant evolution, namely the origin of seed plants, remains poorly understood due to the previous lack of whole-genome data for gymnosperms.

Methods

The newly available genome sequences of Picea abies, Picea glauca and Pinus taeda were used to identify the complet

SUBMITTER: Gramzow L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4204780 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature