title: How is FLC repression initiated by cold?
abstract: Vernalization is the promotion of flowering in response to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. In Arabidopsis, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a suppressor of flowering, is repressed by low temperatures but the mechanism leading to the initial decrease in FLC transcription remains a mystery. No mutants that block the repression of FLC at low temperatures have been identified to date. If the failure to identify such a mutant is assumed to imply that no such mutant exists, then it follows that the first response to the drop in temperature is physical, not genetic. In this Opinion article we propose that the drop in temperature first causes a simple change in the topology of the chromatin polymer, which in turn initiates the repression of FLC transcription.
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Agriculture, Canberra ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Helliwell
authors.affiliation: CSIRO, Digital Productivity and Services, Canberra ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Anderssen
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Agriculture, Canberra ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Masumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Agriculture, Canberra ACT, Australia. Electronic address: jean.finnegan@csiro.au.
authors.forename: E Jean
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Finnegan
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins