TY - JOUR
T1 - Diversification of genes encoding mei2-like RNA binding proteins in plants
AU - Anderson, Garrett H.
AU - Alvarez, Nena D G
AU - Gilman, Carmel
AU - Jeffares, Daniel C.
AU - Trainor, Vernon C W
AU - Hanson, Maureen R.
AU - Veit, Bruce
PY - 2004/3/1
Y1 - 2004/3/1
N2 - A predominantly plant-based family of genes encoding RNA binding proteins is defined by the presence of a highly conserved RNA binding motif first described in the mei2 gene of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In silico analyses reveal nine mei2-like genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and six in Oryza sativa. These predicted genes group into four distinct clades, based on overall sequence similarity and subfamily-specific sequence elements. In situ analysis show that Arabidopsis genes from one of these clades, TEL1 and TEL2, are specifically expressed in central zone of the shoot apical meristem and the quiescent center of the root apical meristem, suggesting that they may somehow function to maintain indeterminacy in these tissues. By contrast, members of two sister clades, AML1 through AML5, are expressed more broadly, a trend that was confirmed by Q-PCR analysis. mei2-like transcripts with similar sequences showed similar expression patterns, suggesting functional redundancy within the four clades. Phenotypic analyses of lines that contain T-DNA insertions to individual mei2-like genes reveal no obvious phenotypes, further suggesting redundant activities for these gene products.
AB - A predominantly plant-based family of genes encoding RNA binding proteins is defined by the presence of a highly conserved RNA binding motif first described in the mei2 gene of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In silico analyses reveal nine mei2-like genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and six in Oryza sativa. These predicted genes group into four distinct clades, based on overall sequence similarity and subfamily-specific sequence elements. In situ analysis show that Arabidopsis genes from one of these clades, TEL1 and TEL2, are specifically expressed in central zone of the shoot apical meristem and the quiescent center of the root apical meristem, suggesting that they may somehow function to maintain indeterminacy in these tissues. By contrast, members of two sister clades, AML1 through AML5, are expressed more broadly, a trend that was confirmed by Q-PCR analysis. mei2-like transcripts with similar sequences showed similar expression patterns, suggesting functional redundancy within the four clades. Phenotypic analyses of lines that contain T-DNA insertions to individual mei2-like genes reveal no obvious phenotypes, further suggesting redundant activities for these gene products.
KW - apical meristem
KW - cell differentiation
KW - cell division
KW - evolution
KW - mei2
KW - RNA binding protein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4544227964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/B:PLAN.0000040819.33383.b6
DO - 10.1023/B:PLAN.0000040819.33383.b6
M3 - Article
C2 - 15356386
AN - SCOPUS:4544227964
SN - 0167-4412
VL - 54
SP - 653
EP - 670
JO - Plant Molecular Biology
JF - Plant Molecular Biology
IS - 5
ER -