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Abstract Detail



Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo)

Bruenn, Riva [1], Almeida, Ana [2], Specht, Chelsea [3].

The Fearful Symmetry of Flowers: investigating the role of TCP and MYB transcription factors in establishing dorsal/ventral asymmetry in the Zingiberales, an order of tropical gingers.

The transition from many planes of symmetry (actinomorphy) to one plane (zygomorphy) in flowers increases pollinator specificity, contributing to the diversification of plant lineages. CYCLOIDEA and DICHOTOMA (TCP transcription factors), and RADIALIS and DIVARICATA (MYB transcription factors) make up the core of a floral symmetry network known from Antirrhinum majus. This network may be responsible for the many shifts from actinomorphy to zygomorphy across angiosperms. We investigated the conservation of the symmetry network in the Zingiberales, a monocot order with diverse floral morphologies and family-specific organs contributing to zygomorphy. If TCPs and MYBs control symmetry in the Zingiberales, these transcription factors may have unique whorl and organ specific expression and/or function across the order. Preliminary results indicate multiple copies of CYCLOIDEA-like, RADIALIS-like, and DIVARICATA-like, with evidence for Zingiberales-specific duplications in CYCLOIDEA-like and DIVARICATA-like. We utilized floral organ transcriptomes to estimate expression of each recovered gene, producing data consistent with a role for TCPs and MYBs in floral symmetry in the Zingiberales, with independent roles for different gene copies. Our results support the conservation of the Antirrhinum symmetry network in a distant monocot lineage, and provide insight into the role of gene duplication in network modification.


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1 - University of California at Berkeley, Plant and Microbial Biology, 431 Koshland Hall , Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
2 - University of California at Berkeley, Plant and Microbial Biology, 431 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720
3 - University of California at Berkeley, Plant and Microbial Biology, Integrative Biology, 431 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

Keywords:
bilateral flower symmetry
TCP transcription factor
MYB transcription factor
Zingiberales.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 42
Location: Hall B/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2015
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 42002
Abstract ID:456
Candidate for Awards:Katherine Esau Award


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