InterPro domain: IPR004883

The lateral organ boundaries (LOB) gene is expressed at the adaxial base of initiating lateral organs and encodes a plant-specific protein of unknown function. The N-terminal one half of the LOB protein contains a conserved approximately 100-amino acid domain (the LOB domain) that is present in 42 other Arabidopsis thaliana proteins and in proteins from a variety of other plant species. Genes encoding LOB domain (LBD) proteins are expressed in a variety of temporal- and tissue-specific patterns, suggesting that they may function in diverse processes [ 1 ]The LOB domain contains conserved blocks of amino acids that identify the LBD gene family. In particular, a conserved C-x(2)-C-x(6)-C-x(3)-C motif, which is defining feature of the LOB domain, is present in all LBD proteins. It is possible that this motif forms a new zinc finger [ 2 ].

1. The lateral organ boundaries gene defines a novel, plant-specific gene family. Plant Physiol. 129, 747-61