Diversification of C-function activity in maize flower development

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1996-11, Vol.274 (5292), p.1537-1540
• Main Authors: Mena, Montana, Ambrose, Barbara A., Meeley, Robert B., Briggs, Steven P., Yanofsky, Martin F., Schmidt, Robert J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adn; Alleles; Amino Acid Sequence; Amino acids; Angiosperms; Biological and medical sciences; Carpels; chemical composition; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; composicion quimica; composition chimique; Corn; dna; DNA Transposable Elements; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; etapas de desarrollo de la planta; Females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene; Gene Expression; Genes; Genes, Plant; Genetic aspects; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; MADS Domain Proteins; Meristems; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphogenesis; Mutation; nucleotide sequence; Phenotype; plant developmental stages; Plant morphogenesis; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant reproduction; Plants; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; Redundancy; RNA; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA, Plant - genetics; RNA, Plant - metabolism; secuencia nucleotidica; sequence nucleotidique; stade de developpement vegetal; Stamens; Tassels; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcripts (Written Records); Vegetals; Zea mays; Zea mays - genetics; Zea mays - growth & development; Zea mays - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.274.5292.1537

The Arabidopsis gene AGAMOUS is required for male and female reproductive organ development and for floral determinacy. Reverse genetics allowed the isolation of a transposon-induced mutation in ZAG1, the maize homolog of AGAMOUS. ZAG1 mutants exhibited a loss of determinacy, but the identity of reproductive organs was largely unaffected. This suggested a redundancy in maize sex organ specification that led to the identification and cloning of a second AGAMOUS homolog, ZMM2, that has a pattern of expression distinct from that of ZAG1. C-function organ identify in maize (as defined by the A, B, C model of floral organ development) may therefore be orchestrated by two closely related genes, ZAG1 and ZMM2, with overlapping but nonidentical activities.