| Description |
Plant homeobox genes can be classified into 14 classes based on sequence differentiation and fusion with characteristic codomain sequences. Homeobox genes encode a typical DNA-binding domain of 60 amino acids, known as homeodomain. Typically, homeodomain folds into characteristic 3D structure containing three alpha-helices, of which the second and third form a helix-turn-helix motif. Three-Amino acid-Loop Extension, or TALE, superclass is characterized by 63 aa, with three extra residues inserted between helix 1 and 2. KNOX and BEL are to subclass of TALE superclass. These two classes of TALE HD proteins found in plants, KNOX and BEL, are characterized by a conserved codomain structure. The BEL class of proteins is uniquely characterized by two conserved domains upstream of the homeodomain, called SKY and BEL.
Reference:
1. T. R. Burglin, Analysis of TALE superclass homeobox genes (MEIS, PBC, KNOX, Iroquois, TGIF) reveals a novel domain conserved between plants and animals. Nucleic Acids Res 25, 4173 (1997).
2. Mukherjee, K., Brocchieri, L., and Burglin, T.R. (2009). A comprehensive classification and evolutionary analysis of plant homeobox genes. Mol Biol Evol 26, 2775-2794.
|