Type II MADS-box Genes Isolated from the Gymnosperm Cones of Ephedra and Juniper

Abstract

Type II MADS-box genes determine the organ identity in angiosperm reproductive structures. Current knowledge of Type II MADS-box genes in gymnosperm cones is limited, but it does support the hypothesis that seed plant reproductive structures evolved using a similar genetic toolkit. In this study we focused on isolating and sequencing Type II MADS-box genes from the understudied gymnosperm cones of Ephedra and Juniper. We isolated 11 unique Type II MADS-box gene sequences that belong to four gene lineages. This is the first report of MADS-box genes in Ephedra. Our understanding of the evolutionary history of reproductive structures in gymnosperms and seed plants in general will continue to improve with further work on isolating more sequences and gene expression studies with our increased sampling of gymnosperm Type II MADS-box genes. This knowledge may help determine how cone and flowers are similar at the genetic level and ultimately how flowers evolved from cones