title: On the origin of MADS-domain transcription factors.
abstract: MADS-domain transcription factors are involved in signal transduction and developmental control in plants, animals and fungi. Because their diversification is linked to the origin of novelties in multicellular eukaryotes, the early evolution of MADS-domain proteins is of interest, but has remained enigmatic. Employing whole genome sequence information and remote homology detection methods, we demonstrate that the MADS domain originated from a region of topoisomerases IIA subunit A. Furthermore, we provide evidence that gene duplication occurred in the lineage that led to the MRCA of extant eukaryotes, giving rise to SRF-like and MEF2-like MADS-box genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gramzow
authors.forename: Markus S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics*; D020440:Gene Duplication; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II