MADS-box

The MADS - box proteins are satisfy proteins in eukaryotes, the gene regulatory functions, so-called transcription factors. Most MADS-box proteins are involved in developmental processes, such as in the development of the inflorescence of angiosperms. The name 'box' indicates a gene segment in the coding for the proteins of genes that has not changed in the course of evolution; Correspondingly, a portion of the amino acid sequence in all of these proteins is equal. This is at the same time decisive for the function of proteins, protein domain.

Origin of the name

The acronym MADS is composed of the initial letters of the genes in which the sequence element was first found:

• MCM1 in the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae,
• AGAMOUS in the thale cress, Arabidopsis thaliana,
• DEFICIENS in the Great snapdragon Antirrhinum majus,
• SRF in humans, Homo sapiens.

The actually first found MADS protein is however ARG80 from baker's yeast.

Function

In plants, MADS - box genes have a considerable spread. They can be found among others in plant homeotic genes ( such as AGAMOUS and DEFICIENS ), which are involved in the formation of the plant organ identity. An example is the determination of the floral organs.

It has been shown that the MADS - box genes SOC1 and FLC in Arabidopsis play an important role in the timing of flowering time and participating here is that fertility is then assured if reproductive success is most likely.

Properties

Typical lengths of the MADS - box are 168 to 180 base pairs. The corresponding MADS - domain in the MADS-box protein has DNA -binding properties and regulates the transcription of other proteins.