Award Abstract #0110115
Comparative Genomics of Angiosperm MADS-Box Genes

NSF Org:	IOS Division of Integrative Organismal Systems
Initial Amendment Date:	September 18, 2001
Latest Amendment Date:	September 18, 2001
Award Number:	0110115
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Jane Silverthorne IOS Division of Integrative Organismal Systems BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	September 1, 2001
Expires:	August 31, 2004 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$435432
Investigator(s):	Vivian Irish vivian.irish@yale.edu (Principal Investigator) Michael Donoghue (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Yale University P.O. Box 208337 NEW HAVEN, CT 06520 203/432-2460
NSF Program(s):	PLANT GENOME RESEARCH PROJECT
Field Application(s):
Program Reference Code(s):	BIOT, 9109
Program Element Code(s):	1329

ABSTRACT

Plant MADS-box genes encode transcriptional regulators that are required for a variety of critical developmental processes, including organ identity, flowering, fruit development, root development, and pattern formation. This family of genes has diversified dramatically during the evolution of vascular plants, and especially within the angiosperms, resulting in the large number of these genes in modern flowering plant species. The problem at hand is to define the roles of these MADS-box genes, as well as to understand the evolutionary changes that resulted in their great diversity of functions. Cloning and sequencing MADS-box genes in a variety of plant species will lay the groundwork to address this question. These sequences will be used in a series of phylogenetic analyses to determine the relationships among these genes. Understanding the diversity of functions encoded by the MADS-box genes, coupled with knowledge of how these processes have been modified through the evolution of vascular plants, will be key in developing targeted strategies for manipulating the growth and development of non-model plant species.

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