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Parallel structural evolution of auxin response factors in the angiosperms
Cédric Finet1, Chloé Fourquin, Marion Vinauger
1Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes (UMR 5667 - CNRS, INRA, Université de Lyon) Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|July 15, 2010
Summary
The evolution of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) genes, specifically ETTIN (ETT) and ARF4, involved gene duplication and C-terminal truncations. These structural changes in ARF proteins influenced floral and leaf development in angiosperms.
Area of Science:
- Plant developmental biology
- Molecular evolution
- Genomics
Background:
- Transcription factors ETTIN (ETT/ARF3) and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 4 (ARF4) are paralogs regulating floral and leaf development in Arabidopsis.
- ETT possesses a truncated C terminus, lacking regulatory domains found in other AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORs (ARFs), including ARF4.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural evolution of ETT and ARF4 genes.
- To understand the functional significance of C-terminal truncations in ARF proteins.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis to trace the evolutionary history of ETT and ARF4.
- Comparative analysis of ARF gene orthologs in early-diverging angiosperm lineages.
- Functional assays using ETT and ARF4 coding sequences in Arabidopsis ett mutants.
Main Results:
- ETT and ARF4 originated from a duplicated non-truncated ARF gene predating angiosperm radiation.
- Truncated ETT and ARF4 orthologs are present in early angiosperm groups (Amborellales, Nymphaeales).
- Truncated ARF4 transcripts in Amborellales arise from alternative splicing, unlike permanent truncations elsewhere.
Conclusions:
- Gene duplication and subsequent C-terminal truncation of ARF genes represent a significant evolutionary event in angiosperms.
- These structural modifications in ETT and ARF4 likely played a role in floral and leaf development diversification.
- Alternative splicing can generate truncated ARF variants, contributing to functional diversity.
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