The Impact of Gene Duplication and Divergence on the Formation of Protein Complexes

TL;DRAbstract

The process of organ identity is relatively well understood in Arabidopsis, where the ABC model explains the genetic basis of floral organ identity. The ABC model contains A, B, and C genes, which are expressed in overlapping fields to produce the four floral organs: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. These genes are members of the MADS-box transcription factor family, which function together in protein complexes; however, it remains unknown how evolutionary conserved these MADS-box genes are amongst disparate plant species. To address this, we are interested in studying the process of floral organ identity determination in the lower eudicot Aquilegia (Columbine). This new model system is unique in possessing five types of floral organs. Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Aquilegia, we have shown that some duplicated MADS-box genes inherited portions of the ancestral functions while others have evolved entirely new functions related to the fifth type of floral organ. Under

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