Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 5, 2026

Agamous

AGAMOUS (AG) is a homeotic gene and MADS-box transcription factor protein present in Arabidopsis thaliana. The TAIR AGI number is AT4G18960.

Last revised
Jun 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
443 w
Citations
5
Source

AGAMOUS (AG) is a homeotic gene and MADS-box transcription factor protein present in Arabidopsis thaliana. The TAIR AGI number is AT4G18960.

Floral organ identity across flowering plants is determined by particular combinations of the protein products of homeotic genes, which is described by the ABC model of flower development. These proteins act within regions of undifferentiated cells known as the floral meristem and give the cells a developmental fate.1 In Arabidopsis thaliana, AG functions as a C-class homeotic gene, where if combined with B-class gene function (APETALA3, PISTILLATA), it promotes stamen development.2 If AG is not combined with any other ABC homeotic genes, it promotes carpel development. Additionally, AG function results in the cessation of all floral meristem activity by repressing WUSCHEL.3

agamous mutant with repeating whorls of sepals and petals. source ↗

In the absence of the AG protein, stamens and carpels do not develop and meristem activity continues, resulting in flowers consisting of many whorls of sepals and petals.45

Further reading

Further reading

References

References

  1. Weigel, Detlef; Elliot, Meyerowitz (1994). "The ABCs of Floral Homeotic Genes" (PDF). Cell Press. 78: 203–208 – via Oxford Academic.
  2. Coen, Enrico S.; Meyerowitz, Elliot M. (1991). "The war of the whorls: genetic interactions controlling flower development". Nature. 353 (6339): 31–37. doi:10.1038/353031a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  3. Lenhard, Michael; Bohnert, Andrea; Jürgens, Gerd; Laux, Thomas (2001). "Termination of Stem Cell Maintenance in Arabidopsis Floral Meristems by Interactions between WUSCHEL and AGAMOUS". Cell. 105 (6): 805–814. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(01)00390-7. ISSN 0092-8674.
  4. Yanofsky, Martin F.; Ma, Hong; Bowman, John L.; Drews, Gary N.; Feldmann, Kenneth A.; Meyerowitz, Elliot M. (1990). "The protein encoded by the Arabidopsis homeotic gene agamous resembles transcription factors" (PDF). Nature. 346: 35–38.
  5. Gómez-Mena, Concepción; Folter, Stefan de; Costa, Maria Manuela R.; Angenent, Gerco C.; Sablowski, Robert (2005-02-01). "Transcriptional program controlled by the floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS during early organogenesis". Development. 132 (3): 429–438. doi:10.1242/dev.01600. ISSN 0950-1991. PMID 15634696.
External links