title: Functional significance of the alternative transcript processing of the Arabidopsis floral promoter FCA.
abstract: The Arabidopsis gene FCA encodes an RNA binding protein that functions to promote the floral transition. The FCA transcript is alternatively processed to yield four transcripts, the most abundant of which is polyadenylated within intron 3. We have analyzed the role of the alternative processing on the floral transition. The introduction of FCA intronless transgenes resulted in increased FCA protein levels and accelerated flowering, but no role in flowering was found for products of the shorter transcripts. The consequences of the alternative processing on the FCA expression pattern were determined using a series of translational FCA-beta-glucuronidase fusions. The inclusion of FCA genomic sequence containing the alternatively processed intron 3 restricted the expression of the transgene predominantly to shoot and root apices and young flower buds. Expression of this fusion also was delayed developmentally. Therefore, the alternative processing of the FCA transcript limits, both spatially and temporally, the amount of functional FCA protein. Expression in roots prompted an analysis of root development, which indicated that FCA functions more generally than in the control of the floral transition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macknight
authors.forename: Meg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duroux
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dijkwel
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C106535:Flowering time control protein FCA, Arabidopsis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005966:Glucuronidase