title: FUSCA3 interacting with LEAFY COTYLEDON2 controls lateral root formation through regulating YUCCA4 gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.
abstract: Lateral root (LR) development is a post-embryonic organogenesis event that gives rise to most of the underground parts of higher plants. Auxin promotes LR formation, but the molecular mechanisms involved in this process are still not well understood. We analyzed LR formation induced by FUSCA3 (FUS3), a B3 domain transcription factor, which may function by promoting auxin biosynthesis during this process. We identified FUS3-interacting proteins that function in LR formation. In addition, we searched for the common targets of both FUS3 and its interacting protein. The role of their interactions in regulating auxin accumulation and LR initiation was examined. We identified LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) as an interacting factor of FUS3, and demonstrated that these two homologous B3 transcription factors interact to bind to the auxin biosynthesis gene YUCCA4 (YUC4) and synergistically activate its transcription during LR formation. Furthermore, FUS3 expression is activated by LEC2 in LR initiation. The observations indicate that the FUS3-LEC2 complex functions as a key regulator in auxin-regulated LR formation. The results of this study provide new information for understanding the mechanisms of LR regulation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Li Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Shan Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Xian Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, 271018, China.
authors.forename: Ying Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C502726:FUSCA3 protein, Arabidopsis; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; C504240:LEC2 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C574208:YUCCA4 protein, Arabidopsis
keywords: 
  Arabidopsis thaliana
  ; FUSCA3 (FUS3)-LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) interaction; YUCCA4; auxin biosynthesis; lateral root (LR) formation; transcription factor