title: Early evolution of the MFT-like gene family in plants.
abstract: Angiosperm genes sharing a conserved phosphatidylethanolamine-binding (PEPB) domain have been shown to be involved in the control of shoot meristem identity and flowering time. The family is divided into three subfamilies, FT-like, TFL1-like and MFT-like. This study is focused on the evolution of the MFT-like clade, suggested to be ancestral to the two other clades. We report that the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens and the lycopod Selaginella moellendorfii contain four and two MFT-like genes respectively. Neither species have any FT or TFL1-like genes. Furthermore, we have identified a new subclade of MFT-like genes in Angiosperms. Quantitative expression analysis of MFT-like genes in Physcomitrella patens reveals that the expression patterns are circadian and reaches maximum in gametangia and sporophytes. Our data suggest that the occurrence FT and TFL1-like genes, is associated with the evolution of seed plants. Expression data for Physcomitrella MFT-like genes implicates an involvement in the development of reproductive tissues in the moss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Functional Genomics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, Sweden. harald.hedman@ebc.uu.se
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Källman
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lagercrantz
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005091:Exons; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000528:radiation effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000528:radiation effects; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D017440:Photoperiod; D010802:Phylogeny; D063245:Plant Development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins