Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published May 14, 1996 | Published
Journal Article Open

Dimerization specificity of Arabidopsis MADS domain homeotic proteins APETALA1, APETALA3, PISTILLATA, and AGAMOUS

Abstract

The MADS domain homeotic proteins APETALA1 (AP1), APETALA3 (AP3), PISTILLATA (PI), and AGAMOUS (AG) act in a combinatorial manner to specify the identity of Arabidopsis floral organs. The molecular basis for this combinatorial mode of action was investigated. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that all four proteins are capable of interacting with each other. However, these proteins exhibit "partner-specificity" for the formation of DNA-binding dimers; only AP1 homodimers, AG homodimers, and AP3/PI heterodimers are capable of binding to CArG-box sequences. Both the AP3/PI heterodimer and the AP1 or AG homodimers are formed when the three corresponding proteins are present together. The use of chimeric proteins formed by domain swapping indicates that the L region (which follows the MADS box) constitutes a key molecular determinant for the selective formation of DNA-binding dimers. The implications of these results for the ABC genetic model of flower development are discussed.

Additional Information

© 1996 National Academy of Sciences. Contributed by Elliot M. Meyerowitz, January 18, 1996. We are grateful to Xuemei Chen, Jennifer Fletcher, Jian Hua, Steve Jacobsen, Joshua Levin, Zhongchi Liu, and Hajime Sakai for comments on the manuscript, and to Carl Parker for valuable discussions and suggestions. This work was supported by National Science Foundation Grant MCB-9204839 (E.M.M.). J.L.R. was a recipient of an European Molecular Biology Organization postdoctoral fellowship and is now supported by a fellowship from Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spain). B.A.K. was supported by American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship PF-3911. The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.

Attached Files

Published - PNAS-1996-Riechmann-4793-8.pdf

Files

PNAS-1996-Riechmann-4793-8.pdf
Files (2.3 MB)
Name Size Download all
md5:5d81e6b4b0d97b5bbb90adacfc98f0f7
2.3 MB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023