Abstract:

AGL15 (AGAMOUS-like 15) is the only MADS domain regulatory factor identified to date that is expressed in a highly preferential manner in developing plant embryos. In this study, an AGL15–like gene was obtained from soybean by homology-based cloning method, here named as GmAGL15. Sequence analysis indicated that Arabidopsis AGL15 and GmAGL15 shared 61% of identity at amino acid level, especially 84.3% in the MADS domains, 63.2% in the K domains. RT-PCR analysis showed that GmAGL15 expressed only in embryos. A real-time PCR was performed to observe the expression profiling of GmAGL15 in developing seeds, and the results indicated that the expression of GmAGL15 appeared two peak values, at 15 DAF (days after flowering) and at 30 DAF. GmAGL15 was expressed at approximately 10-fold higher levels at the 30 DAF than other time of seed development. Based on these data, we suggest that GmAGL15 is likely to be an important component of the regulatory circuitry directing seed specific processes in soybean.

Key words: Soybean (Glycine max L.), Seed development, GmAGL15, Expression