Expression study of four gene clones belonging to MADS- box family in the dioecious plant sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.)

Study of genes involved in flower formation could help to increase our understanding of floral organ identity mechanisms. In this research, the expression pattern of four MADS- box gene family including RaA2, RaB17, RaG24 and RaK17 isolated from the dioecious plant Rumex acetosa was studied. RNA extracted from different tissues (inflorescence, stem, leaf and root) of male and female plants, was used for Northern blot analysis. RaA2 and RaB17 genes are expressed in reproductive organs but RaG24 and Ra K17 genes were shown to be expressed in both vegetative and reproductive organs. Alignment of their deduced proteins with other known MADS box proteins showed that they are belongs to distinct subfamily groups. The proteins of RaA2 and RaB17 genes showed the highest similarity to MADS proteins from Malus domestica and CMB1 from Diantus caryophyllus, respectively. The proteins of RaG24 and Ra K17 genes have the highest similarity to TDR3 protein from Lycopersicon esculentum and MADS5 protein from Betula pendula and POTM1 protein from Solanum tuberosum which are expressed in both vegetative and reproductive phases. In Southern blot analysis, there is a difference in hybridisation pattern between male and female. The simple pattern of hybridisation indicated that there is a single copy and small gene family of each gene in the genome.