title: K-homology nuclear ribonucleoproteins regulate floral organ identity and determinacy in arabidopsis.
abstract: Post-transcriptional control is nowadays considered a main checking point for correct gene regulation during development, and RNA binding proteins actively participate in this process. Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS WITH KH DOMAINS (FLK) and PEPPER (PEP) genes encode RNA-binding proteins that contain three K-homology (KH)-domain, the typical configuration of Poly(C)-binding ribonucleoproteins (PCBPs). We previously demonstrated that FLK and PEP interact to regulate FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), a central repressor of flowering time. Now we show that FLK and PEP also play an important role in the maintenance of the C-function during floral organ identity by post-transcriptionally regulating the MADS-box floral homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG). Previous studies have indicated that the KH-domain containing protein HEN4, in concert with the CCCH-type RNA binding protein HUA1 and the RPR-type protein HUA2, facilitates maturation of the AG pre-mRNA. In this report we show that FLK and PEP genetically interact with HEN4, HUA1, and HUA2, and that the FLK and PEP proteins physically associate with HUA1 and HEN4. Taken together, these data suggest that HUA1, HEN4, PEP and FLK are components of the same post-transcriptional regulatory module that ensures normal processing of the AG pre-mRNA. Our data better delineates the roles of PEP in plant development and, for the first time, links FLK to a morphogenetic process.
authors: Área de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan d'Alacant, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Encarnación
authors: E
authors: Rodríguez-Cazorla
authors: Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Ripoll
authors: Área de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan d'Alacant, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Andújar
authors: Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
authors: Lindsay J
authors: LJ
authors: Bailey
authors: Área de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan d'Alacant, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Martínez-Laborda
authors: Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
authors: Martin F
authors: MF
authors: Yanofsky
authors: Área de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan d'Alacant, Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Vera
mesh_terms: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010641:Phenotype; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; C508767:PEPPER protein, Arabidopsis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins