Seminário dado por Lorenzo Carretero-Paulet, no próximo dia 13 de Novembro (sexta-feira), na Sala da Biblioteca do edifício 7 (ex-FCMA) - Campus de Gambelas da UAlg, pelas 13:30 horas.
Lorenzo Carretero-Paulet
Department of Applied Biology (Area of Genetics),
University of Almería
Spain
Abstract
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix proteins (bHLHs) are found throughout the
three eukaryotic kingdoms and comprise one of the largest families of
transcription factors. A growing number of bHLH proteins have been
functionally characterized in plants. However, some of these have not
been previously classified. We present here an updated and
comprehensive classification of the bHLHs encoded by the whole
sequenced genomes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, Oryza
sativa and Physcomitrella patens. We define a plant bHLH consensus
motif, which allowed the identification of highly diverged atypical
bHLHs. Phylogenetic analysis permitted classification of the 627 bHLH
genes identified into 52 subfamilies. Evolutionary and functional
relationships within subfamilies are supported by the architecture of
conserved motifs, intron pattern, predicted DNA-binding motifs and
specific features at the basic and loop regions of the bHLH domain. Our
results suggest a key role for bHLHs in generating plant phenotypic
diversity and provide a solid framework for further investigations into
the role carried out by plant bHLH proteins in the transcriptional
regulation of plant growth and developmental processes.