title: Arabidopsis transcription factor genes NF-YA1, 5, 6, and 9 play redundant roles in male gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and seed development.
abstract: Nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) is a highly conserved transcription factor presented in all eukaryotic organisms, and is a heterotrimer consisting of three subunits: NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC. In Arabidopsis, these three subunits are encoded by multigene families. The best-studied member of the NF-Y transcription factors is LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), a NF-YB family member, which plays a critical role in embryogenesis and seed maturation. However, the function of most NF-Y genes remains elusive. Here, we report the characterization of four genes in the NF-YA family. We found that a gain-of-function mutant of NF-YA1 showed defects in male gametogenesis and embryogenesis. Consistently, overexpression of NF-YA1, 5, 6, and 9 affects male gametogenesis, embryogenesis, seed morphology, and seed germination, with a stronger phenotype when overexpressing NF-YA1 and NF-YA9. Moreover, overexpression of these NF-YA genes also causes hypersensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination, retarded seedling growth, and late flowering at different degrees. Intriguingly, overexpression of NF-YA1, 5, 6, and 9 is sufficient to induce the formation of somatic embryos from the vegetative tissues. However, single or double mutants of these NF-YA genes do not have detectable phenotype. Collectively, these results provide evidence that NF-YA1, 5, 6, and 9 play redundant roles in male gametophyte development, embryogenesis, seed development, and post-germinative growth.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Plant Gene Research Center-Beijing, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Jinye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Helin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Sulei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jianru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005718:Gametogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D058685:Genetic Pleiotropy; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; C113191:LEC1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005966:Glucuronidase