New MADS-box gene in fern: cloning and expression analysis of DfMADS1 from Dryopteris fragrans

Qingyang Huang; Wenhua Li; Ruifeng Fan; Ying Chang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086349

New MADS-box gene in fern: cloning and expression analysis of DfMADS1 from Dryopteris fragrans

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 22;9(1):e86349. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086349. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Qingyang Huang¹, Wenhua Li², Ruifeng Fan³, Ying Chang²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Plant Research, College of Life sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, P. R. China ; Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology, Heilongjiang Academy of Science, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, P. R. China.
² Laboratory of Plant Research, College of Life sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, P. R. China.
³ Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica (Ministry of Education), Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, P. R. China.

Abstract

MADS genes encode a family of transcription factors, some of which control the identities of floral organs in flowering plants. Most of the MADS-box genes in fern have been cloned and analyzed in model plants, such as Ceratopteris richardii and Ceratopteris pteridoides. In this study, a new MADS-box gene, DfMADS1(GU385475), was cloned from Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott to better understand the role of MADS genes in the evolution of floral organs. The full-length DfMADS1 cDNA was 973 bp in length with a 75 bp 5'-UTR and a 169 bp 3'-UTR. The DfMADS1 protein was predicted to contain a typical MIKC-type domain structure consisting of a MADS domain, a short I region, a K domain, and a C-terminal region. The DfMADS1 protein showed high homology with MADS box proteins from other ferns. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that DfMADS1 belongs to the CRM1-like subfamily. RT-PCR analysis indicated that DfMADS1 is expressed in both the gametophytes and the sporophytes of D. fragrans.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Cloning, Molecular
DNA, Complementary / chemistry
DNA, Complementary / genetics
Ferns / genetics*
Gene Expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
MADS Domain Proteins / chemistry
MADS Domain Proteins / genetics*
Molecular Sequence Data
Organ Specificity
Phylogeny
Sequence Alignment

Substances

DNA, Complementary
MADS Domain Proteins

Associated data

GENBANK/GU835475

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31070291). No additional external funding received for this study. (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/e_nsfc/desktop/zn/0101.htm). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.