Genes involved in sugarcane flower development

• Grant number: 00/07437-5
• Support Opportunities: Genome Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2000
• End date: September 30, 2002
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Maria Helena de Souza Goldman
• Grantee: Maria Helena de Souza Goldman
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Floral homeotic genes that control the specification of meristem and organ identity in developing flowers have been isolated and characterized in several plant species. Most of these genes belong to a large family of regulatory genes and possess a characteristic DNA binding domain known as the MADS-box. Members of this gene family display primarily floral-specific expression and are homologous to transcription factors found in several animal and fungal species. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that members of the plant MADS-box gene family are organized into several distinct gene groups. Genes from different species but belonging to the same gene group have equivalent functional role and display sequence similarity. The objective of this project is to search the EST sugarcane database for genes homologous to each of the gene functions already described in other plant species. One of the outcomes of this project could be the construction of a plant expression vector containing the antisense version of the LEAFY gene homologue (responsible for meristem identity). The hypothesis is that the transgenic sugarcane plants containing the antisense LEAFY would not develop flowers, which is an interesting commercial trait in sugarcane. (AU)