title: Phenotypic evolution through variation in splicing of the noncoding RNA COOLAIR.
abstract: The extent to which natural polymorphisms in noncoding sequences have functional consequences is still unknown. A large proportion of the natural variation in flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions is due to noncoding cis polymorphisms that define distinct haplotypes of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Here, we show that a single natural intronic polymorphism in one haplotype affects FLC expression and thus flowering by specifically changing splicing of the FLC antisense transcript COOLAIR. Altered antisense splicing increases FLC expression via a cotranscriptional mechanism involving capping of the FLC nascent transcript. Single noncoding polymorphisms can therefore be a major contributor to phenotypic evolution through modulation of noncoding transcripts.
authors: John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
authors: Peijin
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom.
authors: Zhen
authors: Z
authors: Tao
authors: John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom caroline.dean@jic.ac.uk.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Dean
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated
keywords: COOLAIR; FLOWERING LOCUS C; RNA capping/decapping; alternative splicing; flowering time