在植物基因组中, 除了同源基因成簇现象外, 近年来还发现一些具有共表达特性的异源基因也能够以基因簇形式存在, 但这些异源基因簇的进化和生物学功能尚不清楚。花药发育和花粉形成是植物进化出的特有的生殖生物学过程, 同时产生了一些在花药绒毡层中特异表达和特定功能的基因簇基因。该研究通过筛选和分析花药绒毡层中基因簇基因的分子特性、表达调控、基因年龄和基因重复进化等信息, 探讨花药基因簇基因与植物开花功能进化之间的关系。结果表明, 在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中共筛选到84个(13个基因簇)花药绒毡层特异高表达的基因簇基因, 它们主要产生于串联重复事件, 76%的基因出现在开花植物分化后的阶段, 主要参与生殖发育、花粉鞘组成和脂代谢等生物学过程。研究初步解析了拟南芥花药绒毡层中基因簇基因的基本特征、生物学功能和基因进化机制, 为深入揭示植物基因簇基因的遗传学功能奠定了基础。

In plant genome, in addition to the discovery of homologous gene clustering, it has been known that some heterologous genes with co-expression characteristics can exist as gene clusters, however, the evolution and biological function of these heterogeneous gene clusters remain elusive. The development of anthers and the formation of pollen are unique reproductive biology processes evolved in seed plants. In this process, some gene cluster genes that specifically express and function in the anther tapetum are evolved. This study screened for some clustered genes expressed during anther development, and analyzed their molecular characteristics, expression regulation, gene age, as well as explored the relationship between the clustered genes and plant flowering function evolution. In Arabidopsis thaliana, we screened 84 clustered genes (which belong to 13 gene clusters), which are mainly expressed in tandem repeat events, and 76% of these genes appear in the latter stage of flowering plant evolution, that mainly involved in biological processes such as reproductive development, pollen sheath composition and lipid metabolism. This study has thus provided preliminary analysis on the basic characteristics, biological functions and mechanisms of the evolution of the clustered genes in the anther tapetum of Arabidopsis thaliana, which laid a foundation for future study on the function of the clustered genes.