Abstract
F-box proteins regulate diverse cellular processes including cell cycle transition, transcriptional regulation and signal transduction by playing roles in SCF complexes or non-SCF complexes. Our database search revealed that at least 568 F-box protein genes are present in Arabidopsis genome. We found F-box proteins with LRRs, WD40 repeats, Kelch repeats, several unique functional domains and new putative domains by domain search analysis using SMART and Pfam databases. The domain analysis revealed that the Arabidopsis F-box proteins are classified into at least 19 subgroups based on their domain structures. To carry out functional analysis of F-box protein genes, 82 cDNAs of F-box protein genes were collected by RT-PCR and by searching a RAFL collection, and cloned into Entry vector of Gateway system. Using the cDNAs, tissue specific expression was analyzed by macro array analysis, and we are currently analyzing antisense transgenic plants of F-box protein genes.
