title: Direct links between the vernalization response and other key traits of cereal crops.
abstract: Transcription of the vernalization1 gene (VRN1) is induced by prolonged cold (vernalization) to trigger flowering of cereal crops, such as wheat and barley. VRN1 encodes a MADS box transcription factor that promotes flowering by regulating the expression of other genes. Here we use transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify direct targets of VRN1. Over 500 genomic regions were identified as potential VRN1-binding targets by ChIP-seq. VRN1 binds the promoter of flowering locus T-like 1, a promoter of flowering in vernalized plants. VRN1 also targets vernalization2 and ODDSOC2, repressors of flowering that are downregulated in vernalized plants. RNA-seq identified additional VRN1 targets that might play roles in triggering flowering. Other targets of VRN1 include genes that play central roles in low-temperature-induced freezing tolerance, spike architecture and hormone metabolism. This provides evidence for direct regulatory links between the vernalization response pathway and other important traits in cereal crops.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: M Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Casao
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Penghao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: E Jean
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Finnegan
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trevaskis
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000254:growth & development*; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001467:Hordeum; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C418905:FT protein, Arabidopsis; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C461388:VRN1 protein, Arabidopsis