Reproductive organ identity is specified by combinatorial interactions among type II MIKC MADS transcription factors (MTFs) in seed plants. The carpel represents a key reproductive innovation in angiosperms, in which the ovules are enclosed and protected, unlike gymnosperms that have naked seeds and lack a carpel. Carpel development depends on tetrameric complexes formed by AGAMOUS (AG) and SEPALLATA3 (SEP3), which bind two DNA sites concurrently and loop the DNA. In angiosperms, all tetrameric organ identity complexes require at least one SEPALLATA MTF. In gymnosperms, only AG-like proteins are present, and SEP homologs have not been identified. Preliminary data suggest, however, that tetramer formation in these species may occur independently of SEP-like partners. This project investigates the properties of AG-like MTFs from four gymnosperm lineages, examining how homocomplex formation and tetramerisation contribute to MADS function using structural, biochemical, and in planta complementation approaches. ​​​​​
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​ Keywords
MADS, transcription factors, Carpel development, AGAMOUS, Evolution, Gymnosperms