Molecular and genetic analyses of flower homeotic genes ofArabidopsis

Recent genetic and molecular analyses usingArabidopsis has revealed basic mechanisms of floral pattern formation. Here is outlined a genetic model of flower morphogenesis. This shows that combinations of floral organ identity genes direct the organ type and the place in the flower bud. After molecular cloning of these genes, the hypothesis is supported at the molecular level. Molecular analyses of homologous genes from other plants show the same system of flower morphogenesis is shared widely among distantly related species.     

A novel role of BELL1-like homeobox genes, PENNYWISE and POUND-FOOLISH, in floral patterning

Flowers are determinate shoots comprised of perianth and reproductive organs displayed in a whorled phyllotactic pattern. Floral organ identity genes display region-specific expression patterns in the developing flower. In Arabidopsis, floral organ identity genes are activated by LEAFY (LFY), which functions with region-specific co-regulators, UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) and WUSCHEL (WUS), to up-regulate homeotic genes in specific whorls of the flower. PENNYWISE (PNY) and POUND-FOOLISH (PNF) are redundant functioning BELL1-like homeodomain proteins that are expressed in shoot and floral meristems. During flower development, PNY functions with a co-repressor complex to down-regulate the homeotic gene, AGAMOUS (AG), in the outer whorls of the flower. However, the function of PNY as well as PNF in regulating floral organ identity in the central whorls of the flower is not known. In this report, we show that combining mutations in PNY and PNF enhance the floral patterning phenotypes of weak and strong alleles of lfy, indicating that these BELL1-like homeodomain proteins play a role in the specification of petals, stamens and carpels during flower development. Expression studies show that PNY and PNF positively regulate the homeotic genes, APETALA3 and AG, in the inner whorls of the flower. Moreover, PNY and PNF function in parallel with LFY, UFO and WUS to regulate homeotic gene expression. Since PNY and PNF interact with the KNOTTED1-like homeodomain proteins, SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM) and KNOTTED-LIKE from ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA2 (KNAT2) that regulate floral development, we propose that PNY/PNF-STM and PNY/PNF-KNAT2 complexes function in the inner whorls to regulate flower patterning events.     

Structure of Flower in Arabidopsis thaliana: Spatial Pattern Formation

Morphological analysis of flowers was carried out in Arabidopsis thaliana wild type plants and agamous and apetala2 mutants. No direct substitution of organs takes place in the mutants, since the number and position of organs in them do not correspond to the structure of wild type flower. In order to explain these data, a notion of spatial pattern formation in the meristem was introduced, which preceded the processes of appearance of organ primordia and formation of organs. Zones of acropetal and basipetal spatial pattern formation in the flower of wild type plants were postulated. It was shown that the acropetal spatial pattern formation alone took place in agamous mutants and basipetal spatial pattern formation alone, in apetala2 mutants. Different variants of flower structure are interpreted as a result of changes in the volume of meristem (space) and order of spatial pattern formation (time).     

蝴蝶兰花发育的分子生物学研究进展

蝴蝶兰花非常独特且高度进化,如萼片瓣化、瓣片特化为唇瓣、雌雄蕊合生成合蕊柱及子房发育须由授粉启动等,是单子叶植物花发育研究的理想材料。近年来蝴蝶兰花发育分子生物学取得了重要进展。该文就近年来国内外有关蝴蝶兰开花转换及花器官发育相关基因研究以及B类基因与兰花花被的进化发育关系方面的研究进展进行综述。研究表明:MADS基因在蝴蝶兰开花转换及花器官发育过程中起重要作用,推测其中的DEF(DE-FICIENS)-like基因早期经过2轮复制,形成了4类不同的DEF-like基因,进而决定兰花花被属性。蝴蝶兰花发育分子生物学的深入研究,将极大地利于通过基因工程手段提高蝴蝶兰花品质如花色改良及花期调控等,推动分子育种进程。     

The backstage of the ABC model: The Antirrhinum majus contribution

At the beginning of the 1990s, a simple genetic model that explained flower development was presented based on Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus floral homeotic mutants. According to this model, which is a milestone in plant development studies, flower development can be explained by three classes of genes (A, B and C), each one controlling the identity of organs in two adjacent whorls. Intriguingly, more than 20 years later, there are still some unanswered questions, in particular regarding the universality of the class A-function genes. Class A genes are well characterised in A. thaliana, but so far no A mutants have been described in other plant species nor in Antirrhinum majus. Here, we retrace the story that led to the proposal of the ABC model focusing on the contribution of A. majus to this model. Although fewer groups are still using A. majus as a model system, this plant was a master contributor to our comprehension of the molecular networks controlling flower development.     

Floral patterning.

In recent years, flower development has emerged as a model system for studying pattern formation in plants. Homeotic mutants with an altered pattern of floral organs have been found in many species. Recently, several of the floral homeotic genes have been isolated; and the mechanisms underlying pattern formation during flower development are beginning to be elucidated.     

Evolution of flower shape in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plantago lanceolata</Emphasis>

Plantago lanceolata produces small actinomorphic (radially symmetric), wind-pollinated flowers that have evolved from a zygomorphic, biotically pollinated ancestral state. To understand the developmental mechanisms that might underlie this change in flower shape, and associated change in pollination syndrome, we analyzed the role of CYC-like genes in P. lanceolata. Related zygomorphic species have two CYC-like genes that are expressed asymmetrically in the dorsal region of young floral meristems and in developing flowers, where they affect the rate of development of dorsal petals and stamens. Plantago has a single CYC-like gene (PlCYC) that is not expressed in early floral meristems and there is no apparent asymmetry in the pattern of PlCYC expression during later flower development. Thus, the evolution of actinomorphy in Plantago correlates with loss of dorsal-specific CYC-like gene function. PlCYC is expressed in the inflorescence stem, in pedicels, and relatively late in stamen development, suggesting a novel role for PlCYC in compacting the inflorescence and retarding stamen elongation in this wind pollinated species.     

DFL, a FLORICAULA/LEAFY homologue gene from Dendranthema lavandulifolium is expressed both in the vegetative and reproductive tissues

FLO/LFY homologue genes were initially characterized as floral meristem identity genes and play a key role in flower development among diverse species. The inflorescence organization of chrysanthemum differs from typical dicotyledons such as Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum as clear sepals are absent, and instead, a pappus, a rudimentary sepal, is formed. To understand the mechanism of reproduction of chrysanthemum at the molecular level, DFL, a FLORICAULA/LEAFY homologous gene, was cloned from Dendranthema lavandulifolium, which is one of the original species of chrysanthemum. The DFL gene consists of a 1,236-bp open reading frame and encodes a putative protein of 412 amino acids, which is 63% identical to LFY and 70% to FLO. The expression patterns of DFL during the flower development were analyzed, and RT-PCR results showed that DFL was strongly expressed in the flower bud. In situ hybridization experiments showed that it is strongly expressed in the inflorescence bract, petal and stamen primordial tissues throughout the inflorescence development. Its expression signals were also detected in stems, leaf primordial tissues and developing inflorescence bracts.     

春兰CgSEP3基因的克隆和表达分析

该研究采用RT-PCR和RACE技术从春兰(Cymbidium goeringii)中分离到1个SEPALLATA3(SEP3)基因。序列分析表明,该基因含有1个732bp的开放阅读框(ORF),共编码243个氨基酸。系统进化树分析显示,该基因是MADS-box基因家族AP1/AGL9组SEP的同源基因,其编码蛋白与其它植物SEP3类蛋白具有较高的一致性,命名为CgSEP3(登录号为KF924272)。实时荧光定量分析表明,CgSEP3在春兰花器官中均有表达,其中在唇瓣、侧瓣和萼片中的表达量较高,在子房和蕊柱中的表达量较低;而且CgSEP3在花发育各个时期都有表达,在1~2cm的花芽中表达量最高,在盛开的花中的表达量最低。研究认为,CgSEP3基因可能在春兰花瓣和萼片的形成过程中具有重要作用。     

向日葵MADS-Box基因HAM23-like克隆和表达分析

为了解MADS-box基因在向日葵(Helianthus annuus)花发育过程中的作用,采用RT-PCR技术克隆了1个MADS-box基因新成员HAM23-like,开放阅读框为831bp,编码276个氨基酸,相对分子量为30.52k D,理论等电点为9.42。系统发育分析表明,HAM23-like与拟南芥的AGL18聚于同一分支,具有较近的亲缘关系。qRT-PCR分析表明,HAM23-like基因在花和成熟果实(籽粒饱满期)中的表达量较高;HAM23-like在开花当天的雄蕊中的表达量最高;随着花的发育,HAM 23-like表达量逐渐升高,在开花后5 d (果实形成早期)达到最高表达水平。因此,推断HAM23-like基因可能与向日葵花器官后期发育和瘦果早期发育相关。     

Basic principles of terminal flower formation

Studies of inflorescences of the mutants bractea and terminal flower1 and double mutant bra tfl1 of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. have shown that the presence of a developed leaf in the node preceding the terminal flower is a necessary condition for the formation of the terminal flower perianth. This means that perianth cannot develop in an abracteose inflorescence of terminal flower. The second necessary condition for the terminal flower formation is a sufficient level of expression of the genes responsible for floral morphogenesis. Combination of these two conditions suffices for the development of a terminal flower with perianth. Since the general principles of organization are common for the majority of Angiosperms, it can be stated that if the abracteose inflorescence is terminated by a flower with perianth, this is a consequence of displacement of the lateral flower into the terminal position.__________Translated from Ontogenez, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2005, pp. 90–95.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Penin, Choob, Ezhova.     

Characterization of oil palm MADS box genes in relation to the mantled flower abnormality

In vitro propagation of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) frequently induces a somaclonal variant called ‘mantled’ abnormality, in which the stamens of both male and female flowers are transformed into carpels. This leads to a reduced yield or complete loss of the harvest of palm oil. The high frequency of the abnormality in independent lines and the high reversal rate suggest that it is due to an epigenetic change. The type of morphological changes suggest that it involves homeotic MADS box genes that regulate the identity of the flower whorls. We have isolated a number of MADS box genes from oil palm inflorescences by a MADS box-directed mRNA display approach. The isolated partial cDNAs included genes that were likely to function at the initial stages of flowering as well as genes that may function in determination of the inflorescence and the identity of the flower whorls. For four genes that were homologous to genes known to affect the reproductive parts of the flower, full length cDNAs were isolated. These were a B-type MADS box gene which may function in the determination of stamen formation, a C-type gene expected to be involved in stamen and carpel formation, and two putative SEP genes which act in concert with the A-, B- and C-type MADS box gene in determining flower whorl formation. The B-type gene EgMADS16 was functionally characterized as a PISTILLATA orthologue; it was able to complement an Arabidopsis thaliana pi mutant. Whether EgMADS16, or any of the other EgMADS genes, are functionally involved in the mantled condition remains to be established.     

Characterization of candidate class A,B and E floral homeotic genes from the perianthless basal angiosperm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chloranthus spicatus</Emphasis> (Chloranthaceae)

The classic ABC model explains the activities of each class of floral homeotic genes in specifying the identity of floral organs. Thus, changes in these genes may underlay the origin of floral diversity during evolution. In this study, three MADS-box genes were isolated from the perianthless basal angiosperm Chloranthus spicatus. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that they are AP1-like, AP3-like and SEP3-like genes, and hence these genes were termed CsAP1, CsAP3 and CsSEP3, respectively. Due to these assignments, they represent candidate class A, class B and class E genes, respectively. Expression patterns suggest that the CsAP1, CsAP3 and CsSEP3 genes function during flower development of C. spicatus. CsAP1 is expressed broadly in the flower, which may reflect the ancestral function of SQUA-like genes in the specification of inflorescence and floral meristems rather than in patterning of the flower. CsAP3 is exclusively expressed in male floral organs, providing the evidence that AP3-like genes have ancestral function in differentiation between male and female reproductive organs. CsSEP3 expression is not detectable in spike meristems, but its mRNA accumulates throughout the flower, supporting the view that SEP-like genes have conserved expression pattern and function throughout angiosperm. Studies of synonymous vs nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions indicate that these genes have not evolved under changes in evolutionary forces. All the data above suggest that the genes may have maintained at least some ancestral functions despite the lack of perianth in the flowers of C. spicatus. Nucleotide sequences data from this article have been deposited with the EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under accession numbers AY316311, AY397762 and AY379963.     

Pollen from cold-treated Nicotiana tabacum buds: Embryogenic capacity,peroxidase activity and partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

Pollen isolated from fresh and cold treated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ew. Wisconsin 38) flower buds were separated using aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning and analysed with respect to embryogenic capacity, peroxidase activity and isoperoxidase pattern. Pollen with embryogenic capacity from cold-treated flower buds were enriched in fractions with higher partitioning than those from fresh flower buds, but the amounts were the same. Cold led to a general increase in specific peroxidase activity in pollen fractions enriched in embryogenic pollen, and also to specific changes in the isoperoxidase pattern. Neutral peroxidase species (pI around 7) and alkaline species (pIs around 9) could be related to pollen fractions enriched in embryogenic pollen. The data agree with earlier data showing that the amount of pollen with the potential to form embryos is established at an early stage in flower development, whereas if they really do so depends on how they are pretreated, e.g. by cold treatments of the buds. The latter is also reflected by quantitative and qualitative differences in peroxidase.     

A floral meristem identity gene influences physiological and ecological aspect of floral organogenesis

The architecture of a flower is tightly linked to the way a plant pollinates, making it one of the most physiologically and ecologically important traits of angiosperms. Floral organ development is proposed to be governed by the activity of three different classes of organ identity genes (the ABC model), and the expression of those genes are regulated by a number of meristem identity genes. Here we use a transgenetic strategy to elucidate the role of one floral meristem identify gene,LEAFY (LFY), in the evolution of floral organogenesis of a self pollinatorIdahoa scapigera and a obligatory out-crosserLeavenworthia crassa in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. By introducing theLFY genes from these two types of pollination habit into the genetic model speciesArabidopsis thaliana, we provide evidence that changes inLFY influenced flower architecture probably by controlling the downstream organ identity genes.