Insertion of an En/Spm-related transposable element into a floral homeotic gene DUPLICATED causes a double flower phenotype in the Japanese morning glory.
Mutations in a floral homeotic gene DUPLICATED (DP) in the Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil) cause a substitution of reproductive organs to perianth organs (petals and sepals). This phenotype is similar to loss-of-function phenotypes of the C-function MCM1, AGAMOUS, DEFICIENS and SRF (MADS)-box gene family of transcription factors. DP was isolated using the consensus sequence of C-function MADS-box genes. Its intron-exon structure was well conserved beyond species, and it belongs to the FARINELLI (FAR)-pMADS3 subclass of C-function MADS-box genes. In a dp mutant, an Enhancer/Suppressor-mutator (En/Spm)-related transposable element, transposable element of Pharbitis nil (Tpn)-botan, was inserted in the second intron of DP gene, and the subsequent excision event led to a deletion of a substantial part of the original Tpn element and DP genome. A segment of Tpn1-related transposable element was identified at the recent insertion site of the wild-type DP genome. This transposable element sequence was present in all Ipomoea species tested. This finding suggests that the insertion event originated in an ancestral species of genus Ipomoea.
Nitasaka
Eiji
E
Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. enitascb@mbox.nc.kyushu-u.ac.jp
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D027741:Ipomoea / Q000235:genetics*; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins