FT protein movement contributes to long-distance signaling in floral induction of Arabidopsis.
In plants, seasonal changes in day length are perceived in leaves, which initiate long-distance signaling that induces flowering at the shoot apex. The identity of the long-distance signal has yet to be determined. In Arabidopsis, activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) transcription in leaf vascular tissue (phloem) induces flowering. We found that FT messenger RNA is required only transiently in the leaf. In addition, FT fusion proteins expressed specifically in phloem cells move to the apex and move long distances between grafted plants. Finally, we provide evidence that FT does not activate an intermediate messenger in leaves. We conclude that FT protein acts as a long-distance signal that induces Arabidopsis flowering.
Corbesier
Laurent
L
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Carl von Linne Weg 10, D-50829 Cologne, Germany.
Vincent
Coral
C
Jang
Seonghoe
S
Fornara
Fabio
F
Fan
Qingzhi
Q
Searle
Iain
I
Giakountis
Antonis
A
Farrona
Sara
S
Gissot
Lionel
L
Turnbull
Colin
C
Coupland
George
G
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018519:Meristem / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D052585:Phloem / Q000378:metabolism; D017440:Photoperiod; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C092776:CONSTANS protein, Arabidopsis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418905:FT protein, Arabidopsis; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C078729:sucrose transport protein, plant; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone