Isolation and characterization of a SEP- like gene from Alpinia hainanensis (Zingiberaceae)

A cDNA clone, AhSEP3 was isolated from the young inflorescences of Alpinia hainanensis. AhSEP3 cDNA is 891 bp long with an open reading frame of 726 bp that encodes a 241-amino acid protein. Sequence comparisons showed that AhSEP3 is very similar to SEP3 homologues. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that AHSEP3 is a new member of AGL2 subfamily. In situ hybridization analyses showed the expression pattern of the AhSEP3 is very similar to those of SEP3 and SEP3 homologs in other plant species, i.e. the signals of AhSEP3 are present in the inner three whorl of the floral organ.