HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

What's this?

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary Data Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barthet, M. M. Articles by Hilu, K. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Barthet, M. M. Articles by Hilu, K. W. Agricola Articles by Barthet, M. M. Articles by Hilu, K. W. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Expression of matK: functional and evolutionary implications¹

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 USA

ABSTRACT

Strong phylogenetic signal from matK has rendered it an invaluable gene in plant systematic and evolutionary studies at various evolutionary depths. Further, matK is proposed as the only chloroplast-encoded group II intron maturase, thus implicating MATK in chloroplast posttranscriptional processing. For a protein-coding gene, matK has an unusual evolutionary mode and tempo, including relatively high substitution rates at both the nucleotide and amino acids levels. These evolutionary features have raised questions about matK function. In the current study, we examined matK RNA and protein from representative land plant species to provide insight into functional aspects of this unusual gene. We report the first evidence of a transcript for matK separate from the trnK precursor and demonstrate that a full-length MATK protein exists in five angiosperm species. We also show that matK RNA and protein levels are regulated by light and developmental stage, suggesting functional roles for this putative maturase. Specifically, matK expression increased after etiolation and decreased at 4 weeks after germination. This work provides evidence for the expression of the only putative chloroplast-encoded group II intron maturase and insight into regulation mechanisms relating to plant development and, indirectly, to photosynthesis.

Key Words: developmental stage • etiolation • expression • matK • maturase • systematics

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. J. Wurdack and C. C. Davis Malpighiales phylogenetics: Gaining ground on one of the most recalcitrant clades in the angiosperm tree of life Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2009; 96(8): 1551 - 1570. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. T. Valkov, N. Scotti, S. Kahlau, D. MacLean, S. Grillo, J. C. Gray, R. Bock, and T. Cardi Genome-Wide Analysis of Plastid Gene Expression in Potato Leaf Chloroplasts and Tuber Amyloplasts: Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Control Plant Physiology, August 1, 2009; 150(4): 2030 - 2044. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. V. Freudenstein and D. M. Senyo Relationships and evolution of matK in a group of leafless orchids (Corallorhiza and Corallorhizinae; Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae) Am. J. Botany, April 1, 2008; 95(4): 498 - 505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]