The microRNA-regulated SBP-Box transcription factor SPL3 is a direct upstream activator of LEAFY, FRUITFULL, and APETALA1.
When to form flowers is a developmental decision that profoundly impacts the fitness of flowering plants. In Arabidopsis this decision is ultimately controlled by the induction and subsequent activity of the transcription factors LEAFY (LFY), FRUITFULL (FUL), and APETALA1 (AP1). Despite their central importance, our current understanding of the regulation of LFY, FUL, and AP1 expression is still incomplete. We show here that all three genes are directly activated by the microRNA-targeted transcription factor SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 (SPL3). Our findings suggest that SPL3 acts together with other microRNA-regulated SPL transcription factors to control the timing of flower formation. Moreover, the identified SPL activity defines a distinct pathway in control of this vital developmental decision.
Yamaguchi
Ayako
A
Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA.
Wu
Miin-Feng
MF
Yang
Li
L
Wu
Gang
G
Poethig
R Scott
RS
Wagner
Doris
D
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018519:Meristem / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C097414:AGL8 protein, Arabidopsis; C091535:AP1 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C074747:LFY protein, Arabidopsis; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C108465:SPL3 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors
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