Open Access092 RNA Localization of a Strawberry MADS-Box Gene (SAG1) Involved in Fruit Development
Author(s) -
Faye M. Rosin,
David J. Hannapel
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.34.3.457c
Subject(s) - mads box , biology , homeotic gene , gene , agamous , sepal , gynoecium , genetics , stamen , gene family , petal , complementary dna , cdna library , rna , gene expression , botany , arabidopsis , pollen , mutant
MADS-box genes are an important family of highly conserved regulatory genes in plants, animals, and yeast. Genetic analyses have shown that plant MADS-box genes are homeotic and control both the spatial and temporal location of specific organs. While MADS-box genes have been extensively studied and characterized in floral organ development, their involvement in other developmental processes, such as fruit development, is not well understood. From a strawberry fruit cDNA library, we have identified a s trawberry AG AMOUS -like MADS-box gene (SAG1) that is expressed in developing fruit, but not in leaves. This is the first MADS-box gene to be isolated from strawberry. The hypothesis guiding this research is that SAG1 plays an important role in the development of the fruit. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that this cDNA had the highest sequence match to genes from the AGAMOUS family. Comparison of amino acid sequence similarity between SAG1 and members of this family ranged from 70 to 75% overall, and between 98% to100% within the MADS-box. Involvement in stamen and carpel identity is one function of this family of MADS-box genes. Northern hybridizations were performed in order to analyze the expression of this gene at the RNA level. RNA was extracted from various organs of Fragaria × ananassa , c.v. Calypso. SAG1 RNA expression was specific to stamens, carpels and all stages of fruit and seed development. No expression was detected in roots, leaves, or sepals. Thus, we conclude that SAG1 RNA is involved in reproductive organ and fruit development.