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NF–YC3, NF–YC4 and NF–YC9 are required for CONSTANS‐mediated, photoperiod‐dependent flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana
Author(s) -
Kumimoto Roderick W.,
Zhang Yan,
Siefers Nicholas,
Holt Ben F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2010.04247.x
Subject(s) - arabidopsis , biology , transcription factor , nf κb , microbiology and biotechnology , photoperiodism , locus (genetics) , gene duplication , meristem , genetics , gene , botany , signal transduction , mutant
Summary NF–Y transcription factors represent a complex of three proteins called NF–YA, NF–YB and NF–YC. Each protein is highly conserved in eukaryotes, and in the plant lineage has undergone numerous rounds of duplication. Individual NF–Y are emerging as important regulators of several essential plant processes, including embryogenesis, drought resistance, maintenance of meristems in nitrogen‐fixing nodules and photoperiod‐dependent flowering time. Building on the recent finding that NF–YB2 and NF–YB3 have overlapping functionality in Arabidopsis photoperiod‐dependent flowering (Kumimoto et al. , 2008), we have identified three NF–YC (NF–YC3, NF–YC4, and NF–YC9) that are also required for flowering, and physically interact in vivo with both NF–YB2 and NF–YB3. Furthermore, NF–YC3, NF–YC4 and NF–YC9 can physically interact with full‐length CONSTANS (CO), and are genetically required for CO‐mediated floral promotion. Collectively, the present data greatly strengthens and extends the argument that CO utilizes NF–Y transcription factor complexes for the activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T ( FT ) during photoperiod‐dependent floral initiation.