Lorenzo Carretero-Paulet will present this seminar, next 13rd of November (friday), at the Library Room - building 7 (ex-FCMA) - Gambelas Campus of University of Algarve, at 13:30 pm.

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.