Cloning and Expression Analysis of BPLSPL2, A Novel SBP-Box Gene from Betula Platyphylla

A cDNA representing the squamosa promoter binding protein-box genes (SBP-box gene), BplSPL2, containing the full coding sequence was obtained from Betula platyphylla by 5' rapid amplification of cDNA (5'RACE). Sequence analysis showed that BplSPL2 was 925 bp in length with a 525-bp open-reading frame encoding 175 amino acids. By comparing the expression patterns of BplSPL2 and BplSPL1 using quantitative real-time PCR, we determined that the expression of the former is inflorescence-specific and that it is temporally expressed during inflorescence development. Overall, the 2 SBP-box genes exhibit different expression patterns.