title: The control of spikelet meristem identity by the branched silkless1 gene in maize.
abstract: Most of the world's food supply is derived from cereal grains that are borne in a unique structure called the spikelet, the fundamental unit of inflorescence architecture in all grasses. branched silkless1 (bd1) is a maize mutation that alters the identity of the spikelet meristem, causing indeterminate branches to form in place of spikelets. We show that bd1 encodes a putative ERF transcription factor that is conserved in different grasses and is expressed in a distinct domain of the spikelet meristem. Its expression pattern suggests that signaling pathways regulate meristem identity from lateral domains of the spikelet meristem.
authors.affiliation: Plant Gene Expression Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA. gchuck@nature.berkeley.edu
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chuck
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muszynski
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kellogg
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hake
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017343:Genes, Plant; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D018519:Meristem / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C093680:ethylene-responsive element binding protein