Abstract
MADS-box genes encode transcription factors and are involved in development of flowers in flowering plants. It has been reported that MADS-box genes are expressed in gymnosperms, a fern, a moss and green algae. It is important to clear the role of MADS-box genes in non-flowering plants for understanding the evolution of MADS-box genes and the evolution of flower. However, there is no report of the functional analyses of MADS-box genes of non-flowering plants. In this study, we analyzed three MIKCc-type MADS-box genes (PPM1, PPM2, and PpMADS1) of a moss, Physcomitrella patens. Expression analysis of knocked-in GUS-fusion proteins revealed that PPM1 and PPM2 were expressed in shoot apex of gametophore, antheridia, and young sporophytes and that PpMADS1 was expressed in young sporophytes. There is no notable morphological difference in each knock-out line. Phenotypic analyses of double and triple knock-out mutants will be presented.
