title: Two RNA binding proteins, HEN4 and HUA1, act in the processing of AGAMOUS pre-mRNA in Arabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: AGAMOUS, a key player in floral morphogenesis, specifies reproductive organ identities and regulates the timely termination of stem cell fates in the floral meristem. Here, we report that strains carrying mutations in three genes, HUA1, HUA2, and HUA ENHANCER4 (HEN4), exhibit floral defects similar to those in agamous mutants: reproductive-to-perianth organ transformation and loss of floral determinacy. HEN4 codes for a K homology (KH) domain-containing, putative RNA binding protein that interacts with HUA1, a CCCH zinc finger RNA binding protein in the nucleus. We show that HUA1 binds AGAMOUS pre-mRNA in vitro and that HEN4, HUA1, and HUA2 act in floral morphogenesis by specifically promoting the processing of AGAMOUS pre-mRNA. Our studies underscore the importance of RNA processing in modulating plant development.
authors.affiliation: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Yulan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C471931:HEN4 protein, Arabidopsis; C445095:HUA1 protein, Arabidopsis; C118465:HUA2 protein, Arabidopsis; D012322:RNA Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020365:RNA Helicases