title: Overexpression of a MADS-box gene from birch (Betula platyphylla) promotes flowering and enhances chloroplast development in transgenic tobacco.
abstract: In this study, a MADS-box gene (BpMADS), which is an ortholog of AP1 from Arabidopsis, was isolated from birch (Betula platyphylla). Transgenic Arabidopsis containing a BpMADS promoter::GUS construct was produced, which exhibited strong GUS staining in sepal tissues. Ectopic expression of BpMADS significantly enhanced the flowering of tobacco (35S::BpMADS). In addition, the chloroplasts of transgenic tobacco exhibited much higher growth and division rates, as well rates of photosynthesis, than wild-type. A grafting experiment demonstrated that the flowering time of the scion was not affected by stock that overexpressed BpMADS. In addition, the overexpression of BpMADS resulted in the upregulation of some flowering-related genes in tobacco.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Guan-Zheng
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Tangchun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Guifeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Huanzhen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chuanping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis; D029662:Betula / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006652:Histological Techniques; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins