FKF1 conveys timing information for CONSTANS stabilization in photoperiodic flowering.
Plants use day-length information to coordinate flowering time with the appropriate season to maximize reproduction. In Arabidopsis, the long day-specific expression of CONSTANS (CO) protein is crucial for flowering induction. Although light signaling regulates CO protein stability, the mechanism by which CO is stabilized in the long-day afternoon has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX 1 (FKF1) protein stabilizes CO protein in the afternoon in long days. FKF1 interacts with CO through its LOV domain, and blue light enhances this interaction. In addition, FKF1 simultaneously removes CYCLING DOF FACTOR 1 (CDF1), which represses CO and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) transcription. Together with CO transcriptional regulation, FKF1 protein controls robust FT mRNA induction through multiple feedforward mechanisms that accurately control flowering timing.
Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Young Hun
YH
Song
Robert W
RW
Smith
Benjamin J
BJ
To
Andrew J
AJ
Millar
Takato
T
Imaizumi
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D017440:Photoperiod; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D055550:Protein Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C502170:CDF1 protein, Arabidopsis; C092776:CONSTANS protein, Arabidopsis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C410504:FKF1 protein, Arabidopsis; C418905:FT protein, Arabidopsis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors