Phylogenetic Classification of Dof-type Transcription Factors in Pea (Pisum sativum)

Abstract

The Dof protein family is a group of plant transcription factors carrying highly conserved 52 residues referred to as the Dof domain, and belongs to the C4 zinc-finger transcription factors. We isolated various PsDof genes by PCR using the Dof-domain nucleotide sequence of the PsDof1 gene from a cDNA library of elicitor-treated pea epicotyls, and these isolated PsDof genes were then classified phylogenetically. Since the obtained genes (PsDof1 to PsDof7) were scattered over various positions of the phylogenetic tree, they were expected to perform various functions as Dof-type transcription factors. From their positions in the tree, it is expected that the PsDof2 and PsDof5 genes are defense related, as is the PsDof1 gene.