Cloning and sequence determination of the chloroplast psbA gene in Magnolia pyramidata (Magnoliales; magnoliaceae)

The full length gene encoding the D1 protein of photosynthesis (psbA) has b een cloned and sequenced from Magnolia pyramidata (Magnoliaceae). Despite c onsiderable investigation into psbA structure and function in many algal li neages and a few agricultural plants, there has been little effort invested toward characterizing a broader range of plant psbA genes. This is the fir st report of a psbA gene sequence from a primitive angiosperm. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences maintain high overall conservation with other taxa, suggesting a role for psbA in broad based angiosperm phylogenetic rec onstruction.