Rose MADS-box genes 'MASAKO BP and B3' homologous to class B floral identity genes

We isolated PISTILLATA (Pl)- and APETALA3 (AP3)-like cDNA clones called MASAKO BP and MASAKO B3 from wild rose (Rosa rugosa Thunb. ex Murray). We found that MASAKO BP and MASAKO B3 were homologues of PI and AP3. respectively, on the basis of sequence similarity and petal- and stamen-specific expression. MASAKO B3 is close to the TM6 lineage members based on structural analysis, but the expression pattern is similar to those of AP3 and DEFICIENS, which are in the AP3 lineage, MASAKO B3 contains an approximately 40-amino acid insertion between the PI motif-derived region and the paleo AP3 motif. The insertion containing a direct repeat of 69 nt (22 amino acids) at both ends is not found in any other plant AP3 homologues. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.