The evolutionary origin of floral quartets [Elektronische Ressource] : clues from molecular interactions of orthologues of floral homeotic proteins from the gymnosperm Gnetum gnemon / submitted Yongqiang Wang

The evolutionary origin of ‘floral quartets’: Clues from molecular interactions of orthologues of floral homeotic proteins from the gymnosperm Gnetum gnemon Dissertation to obtain the academic degree of doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) at the Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy of the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena submitted by M.Sc. in Cell Biology Yongqiang Wang born on 26.10.1976 in Shandong China 1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. G. Theißen 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. J. Wöstemeyer 3. Gutachter: PD Dr. J. Uhrig Date of the public defence: 03.05.2010 Summary The identity of floral organs in angiosperms is specified by multimeric transcription factor complexes composed of floral homeotic MADS-domain proteins that bind to specific cis-regulatory DNA-elements (‘CArG-boxes’) of their target genes, thus constituting floral quartets. Gymnosperms possess orthologues of floral homeotic genes enconding MIKC-type MADS-domain proteins, but when and how the interactions constituting floral quartets were established during evolution has remained unknown.