The Arabidopsis MADS-box gene AGL3 is widely expressed and encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein

The Arabidopsis AGL3 gene was previously identified on the basis of sequence similarity to the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG), which encodes a protein with a conserved MADS domain that is also found in human and yeast transcription factors (SRF and MCM1, respectively). Analysis of newly isolated full-length cDNA clones as well as genomic clones indicates that AGL3 is indeed a MADS-box gene with a general intron-exon structure similar to other plant MADS-box genes. However, unlike the others, which are expressed specifically in flowers, AGL3 is expressed in all above-ground vegetative organs, as well as in flowers, but not in roots. Furthermore, since AGL3 is MADS-domain protein, it is likely that it is also a DNA-binding protein regulating transcription. To characterize AGL3 as a DNA-binding protein in vitro, we expressed the AGL3 protein in Escherichia coli, and characterized its DNA-binding properties. We show that AGL3 binds to sequences which resemble the target sequences of SRF and MCM1, and have determined the consensus sequence to which AGL3 binds using random oligonucleotides. These results suggest that AGL3 is a widely distributed DNA-binding protein, which may be involved the transcriptional regulation of genes in many cells.