LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY2 acts together with LEAFY to activate APETALA1

Development. 2011 Aug;138(15):3189-98. doi: 10.1242/dev.063073.

Abstract

The switch from producing vegetative structures (branches and leaves) to producing reproductive structures (flowers) is a crucial developmental transition that significantly affects the reproductive success of flowering plants. In Arabidopsis, this transition is in large part controlled by the meristem identity regulator LEAFY (LFY). The molecular mechanisms by which LFY orchestrates a precise and robust switch to flower formation is not well understood. Here, we show that the direct LFY target LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY2 (LMI2) has a role in the meristem identity transition. Like LFY, LMI2 activates AP1 directly; moreover, LMI2 and LFY interact physically. LFY, LMI2 and AP1 are connected in a feed-forward and positive feedback loop network. We propose that these intricate regulatory interactions not only direct the precision of this crucial developmental transition in rapidly changing environmental conditions, but also contribute to its robustness and irreversibility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / anatomy & histology
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • MADS Domain Proteins / genetics
  • MADS Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Meristem / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • AP1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • LFY protein, Arabidopsis
  • MADS Domain Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factor AP-1
  • Transcription Factors