Box, M.S. and Dodsworth, Steven and Rudall, P.J. and Bateman, R.M. and Glover, B.J. (2011) Characterization of Linaria KNOX genes suggests a role in petal-spur development. Plant Journal 68 (4), pp. 703-714. ISSN 0960-7412.
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The Plant Journal - 2011 - Box - Characterization of Linaria KNOX genes suggests a role in petal‐spur development.pdf - Published Version of Record Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) |
Abstract
Spurs are tubular outgrowths of perianth organs that have evolved iteratively among angiosperms. They typically contain nectar and often strongly influence pollinator specificity, potentially mediating reproductive isolation. The identification of Antirrhinum majus mutants with ectopic petal spurs suggested that petal-spur development is dependent on the expression of KNOTTED 1-like homeobox (KNOX) genes, which are better known for their role in maintaining the shoot apical meristem. Here, we tested the role of KNOX genes in petal-spur development by isolating orthologs of the A. majus KNOX genes Hirzina (AmHirz) and Invaginata (AmIna) from Linaria vulgaris, a related species that differs from A. majus in possessing long, narrow petal spurs. We name these genes LvHirz and LvIna, respectively. Using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, we show that LvHirz is expressed at high levels in the developing petals and demonstrate that the expression of petal-associated KNOX genes is sufficient to induce sac-like outgrowths on petals in a heterologous host. We propose a model in which KNOX gene expression during early petal-spur development promotes and maintains further morphogenetic potential of the petal, as previously described for KNOX gene function in compound leaf development. These data indicate that petal spurs could have evolved by changes in regulatory gene expression that cause rapid and potentially saltational phenotypic modifications. Given the morphological similarity of spur ontogeny in distantly related taxa, changes in KNOX gene expression patterns could be a shared feature of spur development in angiosperms. Mathew S. Box, Steven Dodsworth, Paula J. Rudall, Richard M. Bateman, Beverley J. Glover
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keyword(s) / Subject(s): | evolution, flower development, KNOX genes, Linaria vulgaris, petal shape, petal spur |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences |
| Research Centres and Institutes: | Structural Molecular Biology, Institute of (ISMB) |
| Depositing User: | Steven Dodsworth |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Sep 2024 15:38 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Sep 2024 05:30 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/54079 |
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