Abstract
The PEBP/RKIP family is a protein family that is conserved among eukaryotes. First reported as phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP), mammalian members have later been identified with various proteins of unrelated biochemical functions, such as Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), hippocampal neuropeptide precursor, and serine protease inhibitor. Antirrhinum CEN, Arabidopsis TFL1 and FT, and tomato SP are among genetically well-characterized members from higher plants. Similar structures of mammalian PEBPs and CEN as determined by X-ray crystallography suggest a common biochemical function, for which nothing has been reported for plant proteins. Arabidopsis genome contains six genes for this family of proteins: TFL1, FT, TSF (closest homolog of FT), ATC (close homolog of TFL1, counterpart of CEN), BFT, and MFT. Availability of loss-of-function mutants and over-expressing transgenics for TFL1, FT, TSF, and ATC should provide interesting opportunity to study functional diversification of genes/proteins in a widely conserved family.
