title: Characterization and expression analysis of six MADS-box genes in maize (Zea mays L.).
abstract: MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors, which control diverse developmental processes in flowering plants, with organs ranging from roots, flowers and fruits. In this study, six maize cDNAs encoding MADS-box proteins were isolated. BLASTX searches and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the six MADS-box genes belonging to the AGL2-like clade. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that these genes had differential expression patterns in different organs in maize. The results of yeast one-hybrid system indicated that the protein ZMM3-1, ZMM3-2, ZMM6, ZMM7-L, ZMM8-L and ZMM14-L had transcriptional activation activity. Subcellular localization of ZMM7-L demonstrated that the fluorescence of ZMM7-L-GFP was mainly detected in the nuclei of onion epidermal cells. qRT-PCR analysis for expression pattern of ZMM7-L showed that the gene was up-regulated by abiotic stresses and down-regulated by exogenous ABA. The germination rates of over-expression transgenic lines were lower than that of the wild type on medium with 150 mM NaCl, 350 mM mannitol. These results indicated that ZMM7-L might be a negative transcription factor responsive to abiotic stresses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhongbao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huiyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dengfeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yinghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yunsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yanchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Tianyu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C115909:ZmMEK1 protein, Zea mays