title: The Arabidopsis thaliana vernalization response requires a polycomb-like protein complex that also includes VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3.
abstract: In Arabidopsis thaliana, the promotion of flowering by cold temperatures, vernalization, is regulated via a floral-repressive MADS box transcription factor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Vernalization leads to the epigenetic repression of FLC expression, a process that requires the polycomb group (PcG) protein VERNALIZATION 2 (VRN2) and the plant homeodomain protein VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3 (VIN3). We demonstrate that the repression of FLC by vernalization requires homologues of other Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 proteins and VRN2. We show in planta that VRN2 and VIN3 are part of a large protein complex that can include the PcG proteins FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM, CURLY LEAF, and SWINGER. These findings suggest a single protein complex is responsible for histone deacetylation at FLC and histone methylation at FLC in vernalized plants. The abundance of the complex increases during vernalization and declines after plants are returned to higher temperatures, consistent with the complex having a role in establishing FLC repression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: W James
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Helliwell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C104597:CURLY LEAF protein, Arabidopsis; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C118816:FIE protein, Arabidopsis; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C513799:SWINGER protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; C480553:VIN3 protein, Arabidopsis; C442836:VRN2 protein, Arabidopsis