Structure and molecular evolutionary analysis of a plant cytochrome c gene: surprising implications for Arabidopsis thaliana

We have isolated a cytochrome c gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (cv. Columbia), which is the first cytochrome c gene to be cloned from a higher plant. Genomic DNA blot analysis indicates that there is only one copy of cytochrome c in Arabidopsis. The gene consists of three exons separated by two introns. Gene features such as regulatory regions, codon usage, and conserved splicing-specific sequences are all present and typical of dicotyledonous plant nuclear genes. We have constructed phenograms and cladograms for cytochrome c amino acid sequences and histone H3, alcohol dehydrogenase, and actin DNA sequences. For both cytochrome c and histone H3, Arabidopsis clusters poorly with other higher plants. Instead, it clusters with Neurospora and/or the yeasts. We suggest that perhaps this observation should be considered when using Arabidopsis as a model system for higher plants.