ARS | Publication request: The potential of the WRKY gene family for phylogenetic reconstruction: an example from the Malvaceae.

Submitted to: Annals Of Botany
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 10, 2007
Publication Date: July 10, 2007
Citation: Borrone, J.W., Meerow, A.W., Kuhn, D.N., Whitlock, B.A., Schnell Ii, R.J. 2007. The potential of the WRKY gene family for phylogenetic reconstruction: an example from the Malvaceae.. Annals Of Botany.

Technical Abstract: The WRKY gene family of transcription factors is involved in several diverse pathways and includes components of plant-specific, ancient regulatory networks. WRKY genes contain one or two highly conserve DNA binding domains interrupted by an intron. We used partial sequences of five independent WRKY loci to assess their potential for phylogeny reconstruction. Loci were originally isolated from Theobroma cacao by PCR with a single pair of degenerate primers; loci-specific primers were subsequently designed. We tested those loci across their sister genera Herrania and Theobroma, with Guazuma ulmifolia as the out-group. Overall, the combined WRKY matrices performed as well or better than other genes in resolving the intrageneric phylogeny of Herrania and Theobroma as measured by bootstrap values. The ease of isolating numerous, independent WRKY loci from diverse plan species, with a single pair of degenerate primers designed to the highly conserved WRKY domain, renders them extremely useful tools for generating multiple, single-or low-copy nuclear loci for molecular phylogenetic studies at lower taxonomic levels.