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Title: The Evolution of euAPETALA2 Genes in Vascular Plants: From Plesiomorphic Roles in Sporangia to Acquired Functions in Ovules and Fruits
Abstract The field of evolutionary developmental biology can help address how morphological novelties evolve, a key question in evolutionary biology. In Arabidopsis thaliana, APETALA2 (AP2) plays a role in the development of key plant innovations including seeds, flowers, and fruits. AP2 belongs to the AP2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR family which has members in all viridiplantae, making it one of the oldest and most diverse gene lineages. One key subclade, present across vascular plants is the euAPETALA2 (euAP2) clade, whose founding member is AP2. We reconstructed the evolution of the euAP2 gene lineage in vascular plants to better understand its impact on the morphological evolution of plants, identifying seven major duplication events. We also performed spatiotemporal expression analyses of euAP2/TOE3 genes focusing on less explored vascular plant lineages, including ferns, gymnosperms, early diverging angiosperms and early diverging eudicots. Altogether, our data suggest that euAP2 genes originally contributed to spore and sporangium development, and were subsequently recruited to ovule, fruit and floral organ development. Finally, euAP2 protein sequences are highly conserved; therefore, changes in the role of euAP2 homologs during development are most likely due to changes in regulatory regions.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1828479
NSF-PAR ID:
10348015
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Editor(s):
Purugganan, Michael
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Volume:
38
Issue:
6
ISSN:
1537-1719
Page Range / eLocation ID:
2319 to 2336
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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