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Diversity and Expression Patterns of MADS-Box Genes in Gnetum luofuense—Implications for Functional Diversity and Evolution

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Abstract

MADS-box transcription factors are essential mediators of the vegetative and reproductive development of seed plants. Although MADS-box genes have been extensively characterized in angiosperms, their functions are not well-understood in gymnosperms, especially the Gnetales, due to an ambiguous phylogeny of seed plants. Here, we performed a genome-wide search for MADS-box genes in Gnetum luofuense and found 11 Type I and 38 Type II MADS-box members (i.e. three MIKC* and 35 MIKCc genes). The relative abundance of the Type I Mα and Type II MIKCC subgroups (including the DEF/GLO and TM8-like genes) were mainly contributed by tandem duplications. Comparisons of the gene expression levels among members of the MIKCc subgroup reveal that the DEF/GLO-like genes and several TM8-like genes were exclusively expressed in reproductive organs, whereas TM3-like, StMADS11-like and other TM8-like genes exhibited a broad expression pattern in both vegetative and reproductive organs in G. luofuense. In addition, 14 Type II MIKCc genes were found in the stem transcriptome of Ephedra equisetina and we made an attempt to assess the homology to the MIKCc genes within Gnetales. The results of this study provide valuable information for understanding the phylogenies and functions of MADS-box genes in seed plants.

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Abbreviations

K-domain:

Keratin-like domains

MEF:

myocyte enhancer factor

ML:

maximum likelihood

TF:

transcription factors

SRF:

serum response factor

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Zheng Li from the University of Arizona (USA) for his constructive comments on an early version of this manuscript. We also thank the two reviewers of this manuscript for the valuable comments. We also thank Dr. Min Yang and Dr. Yiying Liao from Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen & Chinese Academy of Science for providing valuable technical and analytical assistance.

Funding

This work was funded by the Scientific Project of Shenzhen Urban Administration (201519) and a Major Technical Research Project from the Innovation of Science and Technology Commission of Shenzhen (JSGG20140515164852417). Additional funding was provided by the Scientific Research Program of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJL201607).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Xingangxilu NO. 135, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Chen Hou & Yingjuan Su

  2. Key Laboratory of Southern Subtropical Plant Diversity, Fairy Lake Botanical Garden, Shenzhen & Chinese Academy of Science, Liantangxianhu Road, NO. 160, Shenzhen, 518004, China

    Lingfei Li, Zhiming Liu & Tao Wan

  3. Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Science, Moshan, 430074, Wuhan, China

    Tao Wan

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  1. Chen Hou
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  3. Zhiming Liu
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Contributions

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, C.H. and T.W.; Funding acquisition, T.W.; Investigation, L.L. and Z.L.; Methodology, Z.L.; Project administration, T.W.; Resources, Y.S. and T.W.; Software, L.L. and Z.L.; Supervision, Y.S. and T.W.; Writing – original draft, C.H.; Writing – review & editing, C.H. and T.W. All authors contributed to the drafts and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Yingjuan Su or Tao Wan.

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Hou, C., Li, L., Liu, Z. et al. Diversity and Expression Patterns of MADS-Box Genes in Gnetum luofuense—Implications for Functional Diversity and Evolution. Tropical Plant Biol. 13, 36–49 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-019-09247-x

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