title: Developmental and evolutionary diversity of plant MADS-domain factors: insights from recent studies.
abstract: Members of the MADS-box transcription factor family play essential roles in almost every developmental process in plants. Many MADS-box genes have conserved functions across the flowering plants, but some have acquired novel functions in specific species during evolution. The analyses of MADS-domain protein interactions and target genes have provided new insights into their molecular functions. Here, we review recent findings on MADS-box gene functions in Arabidopsis and discuss the evolutionary history and functional diversification of this gene family in plants. We also discuss possible mechanisms of action of MADS-domain proteins based on their interactions with chromatin-associated factors and other transcriptional regulators.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smaczniak
authors.forename: Richard G H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Immink
authors.forename: Gerco C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Angenent
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000254:growth & development; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D026161:MADS Domain Proteins