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In Situ Hybridization for the Precise Localization of Transcripts in Plants

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Published on: November 23, 2011

Heterochronic genes in plant evolution and development.

Koen Geuten¹, Heleen Coenen

¹Department of Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, University of Leuven Leuven, Belgium.

Frontiers in Plant Science

|October 5, 2013

Summary

Heterochronic evolution, a temporal shift in development, is key to plant morphological diversity. A conserved microRNA pathway regulating developmental timing in flowering plants may also function in ferns, revealing shared evolutionary processes.

Keywords:

APETALA2 Ceratopteris SPL choripetala heterochrony incomposita microRNA156 microRNA172

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Evolutionary biology
Plant science

Background:

Heterochronic evolution, a temporal shift in developmental processes, explains morphological diversity in animals and plants.
While extensively studied in animals, heterochrony in plants is less developed but gaining traction due to novel genetic insights.
A conserved microRNA pathway (miR156/miR172) regulating developmental timing has been identified in flowering plants.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose the molecular investigation of heterochronic evolution in plants using the identified microRNA pathway.
To examine microRNA expression patterns in Antirrhinum majus heterochronic mutants.
To investigate the conservation of this pathway in non-flowering plants, specifically ferns.

Main Methods:

Analysis of microRNA expression patterns.
Study of heterochronic mutants in Antirrhinum majus (flowering plant).
Examination of APETALA2-like gene expression in a fern species.

Main Results:

The miR156/miR172 pathway targets SQUAMOSA PROMOTOR BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE and APETALA2-like transcription factors.
MicroRNA expression patterns were analyzed in Antirrhinum majus mutants.
APETALA2-like gene expression was found to decrease with age in a fern, suggesting conserved function.

Conclusions:

The conserved microRNA pathway provides a molecular basis for studying plant heterochronic evolution.
Ferns may share heterochronic gene functions with flowering plants, indicating deep evolutionary conservation.
This research opens new avenues for understanding plant developmental evolution across diverse lineages.