title: Evolution by gene duplication of Medicago truncatula PISTILLATA-like transcription factors.
abstract: PISTILLATA (PI) is a member of the B-function MADS-box gene family, which controls the identity of both petals and stamens in Arabidopsis thaliana. In Medicago truncatula (Mt), there are two PI-like paralogs, known as MtPI and MtNGL9. These genes differ in their expression patterns, but it is not known whether their functions have also diverged. Describing the evolution of certain duplicated genes, such as transcription factors, remains a challenge owing to the complex expression patterns and functional divergence between the gene copies. Here, we report a number of functional studies, including analyses of gene expression, protein-protein interactions, and reverse genetic approaches designed to demonstrate the respective contributions of each M. truncatula PI-like paralog to the B-function in this species. Also, we have integrated molecular evolution approaches to determine the mode of evolution of Mt PI-like genes after duplication. Our results demonstrate that MtPI functions as a master regulator of B-function in M. truncatula, maintaining the overall ancestral function, while MtNGL9 does not seem to have a role in this regard, suggesting that the pseudogenization could be the functional evolutionary fate for this gene. However, we provide evidence that purifying selection is the primary evolutionary force acting on this paralog, pinpointing the conservation of its biochemical function and, alternatively, the acquisition of a new role for this gene.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Edelín
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fares
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yenush
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mari Cruz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rochina
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA.
authors.forename: Jiangqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, OK 73401, USA.
authors.forename: Kirankumar S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mysore
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez-Mena
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José Pío
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (CSIC-UPV), Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Edf. 8E, C/ Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, E-46011 Valencia, Spain lcanas@ibmcp.upv.es.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cañas
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D020440:Gene Duplication; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D046913:Medicago truncatula / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Duplicated B-function genes; MADS-box transcription factors; Medicago truncatula; PISTILLATA-like.; functional analyses; molecular evolution