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MADS-box

MADS box is a conserved sequence element found in a family of transcription factor encoding genes, the MADS-box gene family.^[1]^[2]

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The length of the MADS-box is defined differently by various authors, but typical lengths suggested are 168 base pairs or 180 base pairs.

The name is an acronym that refers to the genes in which the sequence element was first identified: MCM1 from the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae; AGAMOUS from Arabidopsis thaliana; DEFICIENS from snapdragon,^[3] Anitrrhinum majus and SRF from Homo sapiens. The element encodes the MADS-domain that have DNA-binding properties. In plants, MADS-box genes have undergone a substantial radiation and include among others floral homeotic genes (such as AGAMOUS and DEFICIENS) that participate in the determination of floral organ identity according to The ABC Model of Flower Development.

In Arabidopsis the MADS box genes SOC1^[4] and FLC^[5] have been shown to have an important role in the integration of molecular flowering time pathways. These genes are essential for the correct timing of flowering, and help to ensure that fertilization occurs at the time of maximal reproductive potential.

References

^ West AG, Shore P, Sharrocks AD (1997). "DNA binding by MADS-box transcription factors: a molecular mechanism for differential DNA bending". Mol. Cell. Biol. 17 (5): 2876-87. PMID 9111360.
^ Svensson, Mats (2000). "Evolution of a family of plant genes with regulatory functions in development; studies on Picea abies and Lycopodium annotinum" (PDF). Doctoral thesis. Uppsala University, Teknisk-naturvetenskapliga vetenskapsområdet, Biology, Department of Evolutionary Biology. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
^ Sommer H, Beltrán JP, Huijser P, Pape H, Lönnig WE, Saedler H, Schwarz-Sommer Z (1990). "Deficiens, a homeotic gene involved in the control of flower morphogenesis in Antirrhinum majus: the protein shows homology to transcription factors". EMBO J. 9 (3): 605-13. PMID 1968830.
^ Onouchi H, Igeño MI, Périlleux C, Graves K, Coupland G (2000). "Mutagenesis of plants overexpressing CONSTANS demonstrates novel interactions among Arabidopsis flowering-time genes". Plant Cell 12 (6): 885-900. doi:10.1105/tpc.12.6.885. PMID 10852935.
^ Michaels SD, Amasino RM (1999). "FLOWERING LOCUS C encodes a novel MADS domain protein that acts as a repressor of flowering". Plant Cell 11 (5): 949-56. doi:10.1105/tpc.11.5.949. PMID 10330478.