Summary
We have isolated a cytochrome c gene fromArabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia), which is the first cytochrome c gene to be cloned from a higher plant. Genomic DNA blot analysis indicates that there is only one copy of cytochrome c inArabidopsis. The gene consists of three exons separated by two introns. Gene features such as regulatory regions, codon usage, and conserved splicing-specific sequences are all present and typical of dicotyledonous plant nuclear genes. We have constructed phenograms and cladograms for cytochrome c amino acid sequences and histone H3, alcohol dehydrogenase, and actin DNA sequences. For both cytochrome c and histone H3,Arabidopsis clusters poorly with other higher plants. Instead, it clusters withNeurospora and/or the yeasts. We suggest that perhaps this observation should be considered when usingArabidopsis as a model system for higher plants.
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Kemmerer, E.C., Lei, M. & Wu, R. Structure and molecular evolutionary analysis of a plant cytochrome c gene: Surprising implications forArabidopsis thaliana . J Mol Evol 32, 227–237 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02342745
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02342745