AP3 — Brassica napus

Summary

BnAP3 (AP3, DARMORV10_A04P05440.1) on oilseed rape chromosome A04 encodes a MADS-box transcription factor containing K-box and MEF2-like domains, with DNA-binding, transcription regulatory and protein heterodimerization activities. The gene is associated with specification of petal and stamen identity, floral organ morphogenesis, maintenance of floral meristem and organ identity, and responses to biotic stimuli, silver ions and heat stress. It is linked to numerous flower and inflorescence morphology traits, including petal number, stamen length, carpel shape, and floral organ size, as well as to cytoplasmic male sterility, heterosis, photoperiod-sensitive flowering time, seed longevity, leaf morphology traits, auxin sensitivity and jasmonic acid content. The encoded protein localizes to the nucleus, cytosol, plasmodesmata and endosperm protein bodies. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to petal and stamen identity, floral meristem termination, and osmotic stress tolerance.