Structure and molecular evolutionary analysis of a plant cytochrome c gene: surprising implications for Arabidopsis thaliana.
We have isolated a cytochrome c gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia), which is the first cytochrome c gene to be cloned from a higher plant. Genomic DNA blot analysis indicates that there is only one copy of cytochrome c in Arabidopsis. The gene consists of three exons separated by two introns. Gene features such as regulatory regions, codon usage, and conserved splicing-specific sequences are all present and typical of dicotyledonous plant nuclear genes. We have constructed phenograms and cladograms for cytochrome c amino acid sequences and histone H3, alcohol dehydrogenase, and actin DNA sequences. For both cytochrome c and histone H3, Arabidopsis clusters poorly with other higher plants. Instead, it clusters with Neurospora and/or the yeasts. We suggest that perhaps this observation should be considered when using Arabidopsis as a model system for higher plants.
Kemmerer
E C
EC
Field of Botany, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Lei
M
M
Wu
R
R
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D000199:Actins; D003062:Codon; D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D006657:Histones; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase