title: The GRAS gene family in pine: transcript expression patterns associated with the maturation-related decline of competence to form adventitious roots.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adventitious rooting is an organogenic process by which roots are induced from differentiated cells other than those specified to develop roots. In forest tree species, age and maturation are barriers to adventitious root formation by stem cuttings. The mechanisms behind the respecification of fully differentiated progenitor cells, which underlies adventitious root formation, are unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, the GRAS gene family in pine is characterized and the expression of a subset of these genes during adventitious rooting is reported. Comparative analyses of protein structures showed that pine GRAS members are conserved compared with their relatives in angiosperms. Relatively high GRAS mRNA levels were measured in non-differentiated proliferating embryogenic cultures and during embryo development. The mRNA levels of putative GRAS family transcription factors, including Pinus radiata's SCARECROW (SCR), PrSCR, and SCARECROW-LIKE (SCL) 6, PrSCL6, were significantly reduced or non-existent in adult tissues that no longer had the capacity to form adventitious roots, but were maintained or induced after the reprogramming of adult cells in rooting-competent tissues. A subset of genes, SHORT-ROOT (PrSHR), PrSCL1, PrSCL2, PrSCL10 and PrSCL12, was also expressed in an auxin-, age- or developmental-dependent manner during adventitious root formation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GRAS family of pine has been characterized by analyzing protein structures, phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs and gene expression patterns. Individual genes within each group have acquired different and specialized functions, some of which could be related to the competence and reprogramming of adult cells to form adventitious roots.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abarca
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Conchi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Silvia P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Solana
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Amo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carneros
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Sala
mesh_terms: D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D028223:Pinus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors