title: Leaf shape evolution through duplication, regulatory diversification, and loss of a homeobox gene.
abstract: In this work, we investigate morphological differences between Arabidopsis thaliana, which has simple leaves, and its relative Cardamine hirsuta, which has dissected leaves comprising distinct leaflets. With the use of genetics, interspecific gene transfers, and time-lapse imaging, we show that leaflet development requires the REDUCED COMPLEXITY (RCO) homeodomain protein. RCO functions specifically in leaves, where it sculpts developing leaflets by repressing growth at their flanks. RCO evolved in the Brassicaceae family through gene duplication and was lost in A. thaliana, contributing to leaf simplification in this species. Species-specific RCO action with respect to its paralog results from its distinct gene expression pattern in the leaf base. Thus, regulatory evolution coupled with gene duplication and loss generated leaf shape diversity by modifying local growth patterns during organogenesis.
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Vlad
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Kierzkowski
authors: Madlen I
authors: MI
authors: Rast
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Vuolo
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Dello Ioio
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Galinha
authors: Xiangchao
authors: X
authors: Gan
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Hajheidari
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Hay
authors: Richard S
authors: RS
authors: Smith
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Huijser
authors: C Donovan
authors: CD
authors: Bailey
authors: Miltos
authors: M
authors: Tsiantis
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020440:Gene Duplication; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*