Abstract
MADS box transcription factors have been studied extensively in flowering plants but remain less studied in non-seed plants. MADS box is one such example of a gene which is prevalent across many classes of plants ranging from chlorophyta to embryophyta as well as fungi and animals. MADS box transcription factors are of two types, Type I and Type II. Type II transcription factors (TF) that consist of a MADS domain, I region, K domain, and C terminal domain are discussed in this review. The Type II/ MIKC class is widespread across charophytes and all major lineages of land plants but unknown in green and red algae. These transcription factors have been implicated in floral development in seed plants and thus the question arises, “What is their role in non-seed plants?” From the studies reviewed here it can be gathered that unlike seed plants, MIKCC genes in non-seed plants have roles in both gametophytic and sporophytic generations and contribute to the development of both vegetative and reproductive structures. On the other hand as previously observed in seed plants, MIKC* genes of non-seed plants have a conserved role during gametophyte development. With respect to evolution of MIKC genes in non-seed plants, the number of common ancestors is probably very few at each branch. The expansion of this gene family in seed plants and increased plant complexity seem to be correlated. As gradually the genomes of non-seed plants are becoming available it is worthwhile to gather the existing information about MADS box genes in non-seed plants. This review highlights various MIKC MADS box genes discovered so far in non-seed plants, their possible roles and an insight into their evolution.
Highlights
The main principle of evo-devo proposes that development and evolution are mutually interrelated processes (Gilbert et al, 1996)
Type I consists of Mα, Mβ, and Mγ subgroups that contain a MADS domain and a variable C terminal domain and Type II class genes have two subfamilies MIKCC and MIKC∗ that are characterized by a MADS domain, I region, K domain and C terminal domain (Ma et al, 1991; Henschel et al, 2002; Becker and Theissen, 2003)
These findings suggest that the MIKC type MADS-box genes evolved by the addition of a K domain to the ancestral MADS-box gene in the charophycean—land plant lineage after its divergence from the Chlamydomonas lineage at least 700 million years ago (MYA) (Figure 1) (Kaufmann et al, 2005; Tanabe et al, 2005; Gramzow and Theissen, 2010)
Summary
The main principle of evo-devo (evolutionary developmental genetics) proposes that development and evolution are mutually interrelated processes (Gilbert et al, 1996). In V. speciosa, the expression level of 6 MIKCC type MADS-box genes (VsMB2, VsMB3, VsMB4, VsMB5, VsMB6, VsMB7) was analyzed in sporophytes, gametophytes and sporangia.
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