Cloning and characterization of Fortune-1, a novel gene with enhanced expression in male reproductive organs of Cycas edentata.
To better understand the molecular mechanisms controlling development of sexual characters in Cycas edentata, we attempted to clone genes expressed differentially in male or female reproductive organs. We report a novel gene, named Fortune-1 (Ft-1), with enhanced expression in male reproductive organs. The 593-base-pair Ft-1 cDNA is predicted to encode a 77-amino-acid protein, and exists as a single copy gene in the C. edentata genome. Ft-1 expression is enhanced in male cones, including the cone axis, microsporophylls and microsporangia, but is reduced in ovules and undetectable in megasporophylls. Ft-1 is also weakly detectable in leaves. In roots and stems of C. edentata, Ft-1 transcripts are undetectable. The secondary structure prediction and homology search of Ft-1 protein show that it has a helix-loop-helix motif, and is without any homologue in the database.
Zhang
Pingyu
P
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 10, Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119026.
Pwee
Keng-Hock
KH
Tan
Hugh T W
HT
Kumar
Prakash P
PP
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D029624:Ferns / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger