Molecular characterisation of the Arabidopsis SBP-box genes

The Arabidopsis thaliana SPL gene family represents a group of structurally diverse genes encoding putative transcription factors found apparently onl y in plants. The distinguishing characteristic of the SPL gene family is th e SEP-box encoding a conserved protein domain of 76 amino acids in length, the SEP-domain, which is responsible for the interaction with DNA. We prese nt here characterisation of 12 members of the SPL gene family. These genes show highly diverse genomic organisations and are found scattered over the Arabidopsis genome. Some SPL genes are constitutively expressed, while tran scriptional activity of others is under developmental control. Based on phy logenetic reconstruction, gene structure and expression patterns, they can be divided into subfamilies. In addition to the Arabidopsis SPL genes, we i solated and determined the sequences of three SEP-box genes from Antirrhinu m majus and seven from Zea mays. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.