EXPRESSION OF MAIZE KNOTTED1 RELATED HOMEOBOX GENES IN THE SHOOT APICAL MERISTEM PREDICTS PATTERNS OF MORPHOGENESIS IN THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT

Citation
D. Jackson et al., EXPRESSION OF MAIZE KNOTTED1 RELATED HOMEOBOX GENES IN THE SHOOT APICAL MERISTEM PREDICTS PATTERNS OF MORPHOGENESIS IN THE VEGETATIVE SHOOT, Development, 120(2), 1994, pp. 405-413
Citations number
51
Categorie Soggetti
Developmental Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
09501991
Volume
120
Issue
2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
405 - 413
Database
ISI
SICI code
0950-1991(1994)120:2<405:EOMKRH>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
In this paper we describe the expression patterns of a family of homeo box genes in maize and their relationship to organogenic domains in th e vegetative shoot apical meristem. These genes are related by sequenc e to KNOTTED1, a gene characterized by dominant neomorphic mutations w hich perturb specific aspects of maize leaf development. Four members of this gene family are expressed in shoot meristems and the developin g stem, but not in determinate lateral organs such as leaves or floral organs. The genes show distinct expression patterns in the vegetative shoot apical meristem that together predict the site of leaf initiati on and the basal limit of the vegetative 'phytomer' or segmentation un it of the shoot. These genes are also expressed in the inflorescence a nd floral meristems, where their patterns of expression are more simil ar, and they are not expressed in root apical meristems. These finding s are discussed in relation to other studies of shoot apical meristem organization as well as possible commonality of homeobox gene function in the animal and plant kingdoms.