An extensive analysis of R2R3-MYB regulatory genes from Fagus crenata

Using pairs of degenerate primers, we conducted a polymerase chain reaction to amplify the partial R2R3 domains of a majority of the R2R3-MYB family genes from Fagus crenata and identified a total of 85 independent gene fragments. By phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences, we found that many of the beech genes clustered with members from Arabidopsis, suggesting that these members represent beech orthologs of Arabidopsis. Some of the orthologous relationships became more evident when the complete gene structures were compared. Further, a large number of genes formed an additional and expanding cluster, independent from the other subgroups. These members were further compared with the Populus and Vitis family genes. In the epidermal cell fate clade, expansion of the beech family genes was comparable with those of the Populus and Vitis families, but the number of genes present in every subclade fluctuated extensively. Beech genes were abundant in the general flavonoid pathway regulation and TT2-related subclades; no beech gene was included in the anthocyanin-related subclade. Further analysis of the newly amplified regulatory genes to elucidate their functions may clarify the role of these genes in the evolution of plant species.