20th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
DNA Sequence Diversity of the Gene Encoding the Rough Sheath2 Interacting KH-Domain Protein Among Inbred Lines and Open-pollinated Landraces
Cheryl C. Wong*, Kayleigh A. Swaggart, Heath A. Smith, and Kelsey M. Aurand
Dr. Diane Janick-Buckner and Dr. Brent Buckner, Faculty Mentors
The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is the source of all above-ground plant tissues. Previously, Rough Sheath2 Interacting KH-domain Protein (RIK) was implicated in SAM development (Phelps-Durr et al. 2005). Microarray hybridization experiments confirmed that the RIK gene was differentially expressed in SAM when compared to whole seedlings. RT-PCR performed on mRNA isolated from thirteen different maize tissues verified that RIK was expressed in SAM-enriched tissue, as well as other developmentally distinct tissues. An approximately 500 bp region of RIK containing both exonic and intronic sequence was amplified and sequenced from seven North American inbreds, five New Mexican open-pollinated landraces, five Mexican open-pollinated landraces and nine accessions of teosinte. When compared to the majority of similarly analyzed maize genes RIK showed low nucleotide diversity, which is consistent with selection at this locus.
Keywords: maize, SAM, nucleotide diversity, evolution, bioinformatic, genes, expression, protein
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 7-7
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15 pm