Divergence of function and regulation of class B floral organ identity genes

• Published in: The Plant cell 1997-04, Vol.9 (4), p.559-570
• Main Authors: Samach, Alon, Kohalmi, Susanne E., Motte, Patrick, Datla, Raju, Haughn, George W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adn; androcee; androceo; androecium; antirrhinum; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - ultrastructure; arabidopsis thaliana; Arabidopsis/genetics/ultrastructure; arn mensajero; arn messager; binding proteins; cell differentiation; Class identity; corola; corolla; corolle; diferenciacion celular; differenciation cellulaire; dna; expresion genica; expression des genes; fleur; floracion; floraison; flores; flowering; Flowers; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; gene transfer; Genes; Genes, Plant; genetic transformation; Genetics & genetic processes; gineceo; gynecee; gynoecium; Génétique & processus génétiques; Homeobox genes; Inflorescences; Life sciences; messenger rna; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; morfogenesis; morphogenese; morphogenesis; Petals; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Plant cells; plantas transgenicas; plante transgenique; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; proteinas aglutinantes; proteine de liaison; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Sciences du vivant; Stamens; transferencia de genes; transfert de gene; transformacion genetica; transformation genetique; transgenic plants
• ISSN: 1040-4651; 1532-298X; 1532-298X
• DOI: 10.1105/tpc.9.4.559

Regulatory mechanisms controlling basic aspects of floral morphogenesis seem to be highly conserved among plant species. The class B organ identity genes, which are required to establish the identity of organs in the second (petals) and third (stamens) floral whorls, are a good example of such conservation. This work compares the function of two similar class B genes in the same genetic background. The DEFICIENS (DEF) gene from Antirrhinum, including its promoter, was transformed into Arabidopsis and compared in function and expression with the Arabidopsis class B genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI). The DEF gene was expressed in the second, third, and fourth whorls, as was PI. Functionally, DEF could replace AP3 in making petals and stamens. The DEF gene's AP3-like function and PI-like expression caused transformation of fourth-whorl carpels to stamens. Like AP3, all aspects of DEF function in Arabidopsis required a functional PI protein. Surprisingly, DEF could not replace the AP3 protein in properly maintaining AP3 transcripts (autoregulation). Our data allow us to revise the current model for class B autoregulation and propose a hypothesis for the evolution of class B gene expression in dicotyledonous plants.