Investigating the MADS-box protein family in the fern Ceratopteris richardii

Carr, Derry ORCID: 0009-0008-5357-1073 (2025). Investigating the MADS-box protein family in the fern Ceratopteris richardii. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The family of transcription factors known as MADS-box proteins is found across all land plants, with multiple MADS-box encoding genes per species. In flowering plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana a subset of MADS-box proteins regulates the development of flowers and seeds, binding to each other following the ‘ABCDE’ floral model to specify the identities of each organ type. These functions are thus important to food security because seeds are staple foods globally. MADS-box gene functions remain uncategorised in non-flowering plants, with no corresponding model to the ‘ABCDE’ found in flowering plants. How MADS-box floral functions evolved is largely unknown. This can be determined by studying MADS-box gene functions in nonflowering plants. The model fern Ceratopteris richardii falls into the sister clade of all seed-bearing plants and is an ideal candidate to investigate MADS-box genes in a non-flowering plant because gene functions can also now be tested directly in this species.

The phylogenetic data presented in this thesis suggests the MADS-box protein family present in C. richardii reflects the relationships observed by the MADS-box protein family of A. thaliana. The expression data shows differing expression between developmental stages, despite previous studies suggesting a ubiquitous expression of MADS-box proteins in non-seed plants. Protein-protein interactions within the MADS-box protein family in this thesis suggest no interaction contradicting the interactions observed in flowering plants and within the ‘ABCDE’ model. This thesis provides novel insights into the relationship, expression, and interactions of MADSbox proteins in C. richardii. The work in this thesis offers a starting point for future investigation into MADS-box proteins in non-seed plants.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):