Regulatory elements of the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS identified by phylogenetic footprinting and shadowing.
OAK-B135 In Arabidopsis thaliana, cis-regulatory sequences of the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG) are located in the second intron. This 3 kb intron contains binding sites for two direct activators of AG, LEAFY (LFY) and WUSCHEL (WUS), along with other putative regulatory elements. We have used phylogenetic footprinting and the related technique of phylogenetic shadowing to identify putative cis-regulatory elements in this intron. Among 29 Brassicaceae, several other motifs, but not the LFY and WUS binding sites previously identified, are largely invariant. Using reporter gene analyses, we tested six of these motifs and found that they are all functionally important for activity of AG regulatory sequences in A. thaliana. Although there is little obvious sequence similarity outside the Brassicaceae, the intron from cucumber AG has at least partial activity in A. thaliana. Our studies underscore the value of the comparative approach as a tool that complements gene-by-gene promoter dissection, but also highlight that sequence-based studies alone are insufficient for a complete identification of cis-regulatory sites.
- Research Organization:
- Salk Institute (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-98ER20317
- OSTI ID:
- 821972
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-ER20317-3; TRN: US200413%%188
- Journal Information:
- Plant Cell, Vol. 15; Other Information: Submitted to Plant Cell; Volume 15, ISSN 1296-1309; PBD: 1 Jun 2003; ISSN 1296-1309
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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