title: Shedding light on flower development: phytochrome B regulates gynoecium formation in association with the transcription factor SPATULA.
abstract: Accurate development of the gynoecium, the female reproductive organ, is necessary to achieve efficient fertilization. In Arabidopsis, the correct patterning of the apical-basal axis of the gynoecium requires the establishment of a morphogenic gradient of auxin. This allows the production of specialized tissues, whose roles consist of attracting pollen, allowing pollen tube growth and protecting the ovules within the ovaries. Mutations in the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA (SPT) are known to impair the development of the apical tissues of the gynoecium. Here, we show that the spt phenotype is rescued by the removal of phytochrome B, and discuss how light signaling may control flower development.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: Eve-Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Josse
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051939:Phytochrome B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D051939:Phytochrome B; C426006:SPT protein, Arabidopsis