A repressor complex governs the integration of flowering signals in Arabidopsis

Dev Cell. 2008 Jul;15(1):110-20. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2008.05.002.

Abstract

Multiple genetic pathways act in response to developmental cues and environmental signals to promote the floral transition, by regulating several floral pathway integrators. These include FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1). We show that the flowering repressor SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) is controlled by the autonomous, thermosensory, and gibberellin pathways, and directly represses SOC1 transcription in the shoot apex and leaf. Moreover, FT expression in the leaf is also modulated by SVP. SVP protein associates with the promoter regions of SOC1 and FT, where another potent repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) binds. SVP consistently interacts with FLC in vivo during vegetative growth and their function is mutually dependent. Our findings suggest that SVP is another central regulator of the flowering regulatory network, and that the interaction between SVP and FLC mediated by various flowering genetic pathways governs the integration of flowering signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Flowers / genetics*
  • Flowers / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Gibberellins / genetics
  • Gibberellins / metabolism
  • MADS Domain Proteins
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • AGL20 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • FLF protein, Arabidopsis
  • FT protein, Arabidopsis
  • Gibberellins
  • MADS Domain Proteins
  • SVP protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors