Cloning and expression analysis of a flowering-related MADS-box gene in pepper.

A flowering-related MADS-box gene named PPI was cloned from pepper anthers(Gen-Bank accession No.GU812276)using rapid amplification of cDNA ends.The full length cDNA of PPI was 952 bp with an open reading frame(ORF)encoding 215 amino acids.The deduced amino acids sequence contained a typical MADS domain and a K domain.Homology analysis showed that PPI had high homology to other MADS-box proteins from different species,especially 88% similarity to tomato TPI.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PPI belonged to the MADS-box B subfamily.RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of PPI gene was much stronger in petals than in anthers,sepals or ovaries,and no transcription was detected in leaves.