title: Isolation and functional analysis of the CjNdly gene, a homolog in Cryptomeria japonica of FLORICAULA/LEAFY genes.
abstract: We report the isolation and characterization of CjNdly, a homolog in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) of the FLORICAULA/LEAFY (FLO/LFY) genes. We determined the entire nucleotide sequence of CjNdly, including short 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions. The deduced amino acid sequence was similar to those of the products of the FLO/LFY genes from other species. The nucleotide sequence showed the closest homology to that of the NEEDLY gene in Pinus radiata D. Don. Although no proline-rich region has been reported previously in homologous gene products from gymnosperms, we found such a region at the amino-terminal end of the deduced amino acid sequence encoded by CjNdly. We detected the expression of CjNdly in both reproductive and vegetative tissues and organs of C. japonica. Heterologous expression of CjNdly in transgenic tobacco plants induced precocious flowering of regenerating shoots on agar-solidified medium and flowers with an abnormal phenotype, namely, petal-like stamens. Our findings suggest that the CjNdly gene may have important roles in flower development in Japanese cedar, resembling those of its angiosperm homologs.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiokawa
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Futamura
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osanai
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murasugi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morohoshi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kajita
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D017343:Genes, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant