title: Structural diversification and neo-functionalization during floral MADS-box gene evolution by C-terminal frameshift mutations.
abstract: Frameshift mutations generally result in loss-of-function changes since they drastically alter the protein sequence downstream of the frameshift site, besides creating premature stop codons. Here we present data suggesting that frameshift mutations in the C-terminal domain of specific ancestral MADS-box genes may have contributed to the structural and functional divergence of the MADS-box gene family. We have identified putative frameshift mutations in the conserved C-terminal motifs of the B-function DEF/AP3 subfamily, the A-function SQUA/AP1 subfamily and the E-function AGL2 subfamily, which are all involved in the specification of organ identity during flower development. The newly evolved C-terminal motifs are highly conserved, suggesting a de novo generation of functionality. Interestingly, since the new C-terminal motifs in the A- and B-function subfamilies are only found in higher eudicotyledonous flowering plants, the emergence of these two C-terminal changes coincides with the origin of a highly standardized floral structure. We speculate that the frameshift mutations described here are examples of co-evolution of the different components of a single transcription factor complex. 3' terminal frameshift mutations might provide an important but so far unrecognized mechanism to generate novel functional C-terminal motifs instrumental to the functional diversification of transcription factor families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. mibus@gengenp.rug.ac.be
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandenbussche
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theissen
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Van de Peer
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gerats
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D026281:DEFICIENS Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D017343:Genes, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D026281:DEFICIENS Protein; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins